Sophomore Steven Gallardo (Hamilton HS) struck out nine batters and scattered five hits over seven innings to help lead the Long Beach City College baseball team to a 2-1 non-conference win at Joe Hicks Memorial Field on Thursday.

The win improved the Vikings to 2-3 overall this season, while Antelope Valley dropped to 1-6. The teams close out a two-game series on Saturday (Feb 18) at AVC in Lancaster at 12 pm.

Gallardo (1-1) bounced back from a shaky start last week to pitch the gem this afternoon for the win. After allowing a first-inning run to the Marauders, Gallardo (pictured) settled down and retired 18 of the final 22 batters he faced, including a 1-2-3 effort in his final inning in the seventh.

Trailing 1-0, LBCC manufactured a run in the bottom of the first. Sophomore Daniel Catalan (Warren HS) drew a one-out walk off AVC starter Andrew Robiej. Catalan advanced to second after a groundout by freshman Jimmy Gosano (Lakewood HS). With two outs, freshman Manny De La Rosa (St. John Bosco HS) delivered a clutch single to score the run.

Long Beach put up the eventual game-winning run in the bottom of the fifth. Freshman Jaime Valle (Paramount HS) led off the frame with a double. Freshman Jeremy Ruiz' (Downey HS) groundout moved Valle to third. Freshman Avery Flores (Millikan HS) followed that with a deep grounder to first that allowed Valle to score.

Freshman Jake Angus (Pacifica HS ) closed out the win with two innings of hitless relief. He struck out four to pick up his first save of the season.

Catalan (2 for 3, 1 run) and De La Rosa (2 for 4, 1 RBI) both had a pair of hits to lead LBCC at the plate.

Robiej (0-1) picked up the loss for Antelope Valley. He allowed two runs and five hits over five innings. He struck out two and walked one. Sho Serrano went 2 for 3 with a run to lead the AVC offense.

Photo by Chris Ruiz