Freshman pitcher Candice Shadwell (pictured, left) fired her third no-hitter of the season and sophomore centerfielder Shanise Compton (pictured, right) launched her fifth homerun of the season to lead the Long Beach City College softball team to a 1-0 win over visiting Rio Hondo College on Friday.

The non-conference win improved Long Beach to 22-12 overall while Rio Hondo dropped to 20-12-1.

The no-hitter for Shadwell wasn't an easy one as she had to overcome three walks, a hit batter, and a pair of LBCC errors to keep Rio Hondo off the scoreboard. Shadwell struck out five and improved to 17-11 overall.

Rio Hondo's best chance to score came in the top of the third inning. Shadwell hit Rio Hondo's Elizabeth Medrano to lead of the frame. A sacrifice bunt, followed by a two-out error advanced her to third. But Shadwell got Monica Gomez to fly out to centerfield to end the threat.

Long Beach had numerous chances to break the game open. LBCC had the bases loaded in the second with one out, but Rio Hondo pitcher Ashley Olivas was able to escape without surrendering a run.

Compton finally took matters into her own hands when she smacked the first pitch she saw from Olivas over the left-field fence to lead off the fourth.

"I wasn't really looking for a certain pitch," said Compton on her homerun. "I just wanted to redeem myself after striking out my last time up."  

Compton and sophomore shortstop Reanna Guzman went 2 for 3 to lead the Vikings at the plate.

Olivas allowed one run and seven hits in the complete-game loss for the Roadrunners.

Long Beach returns to South Coast Conference play on Tuesday (Apr. 16) at 3 p.m. when the Vikings host Pasadena City College.

Photos by Chris Ruiz