The Vikings opened conference play with a 6-1 loss to the Chaffey College Panthers on Thursday afternoon at the Joe T. Hicks Field. The Vikings drop to 8-8 overall and 0-1 in the South Coast Conference.
The Panthers were first on the board with two runs in the top of the second inning and then added another in the sixth.
After two scoreless innings, Chaffey put three more runs up to lead the Vikings 6-0.
In the bottom of the ninth, freshman shortstop David Rivera got on base with a single to right field and then advanced to second on a passed ball. Sophomore third baseman Reese Berberet was next up to smash the ball into center field for the RBI to put the Vikings on the board.
Sophomore pitcher Jacob Alcorn (4-1) took his first loss of the season on the mound but earned a career-high record by striking out 10 Panthers in seven innings of work.
The Vikings will play again on Saturday, Mar. 3 at Chaffey College at 12 p.m.
