Vikings strand eight runners in 2-1 loss to Mt. San Antonio

The Long Beach City College softball team suffered a narrow 2-1 South Coast Conference loss to visiting Mt. San Antonio College on Tuesday at LBCC.

The loss snapped the Vikings' five-game winning streak and dropped their record to 16-10 overall and 8-5 in conference play.

Long Beach left eight runners on base and couldn't take advantage of wild Mt. SAC starting pitcher Natalie Sanchez. She hit four LBCC batters and also walked four, but LBCC manufactured its lone run in the bottom of the second.

Freshman Mary Gonzales (Banning HS) was hit by a pitch to lead off the frame. She then moved to second base on a fielder's choice off the bat of sophomore Melyssa Rivas (Santa Fe HS). Sophomore Natalie Ayala (Torrance HS) followed with a groundout to advance both runners. With one out, freshman Cassie Demers' (Mary Star of the Sea HS) grounder allowed Gonzales to score and give the Vikings an early 1-0 lead.

But Mt. SAC (22-4, 10-3 SCC) scored an unearned run in the fourth thanks to an LBCC throwing error to tie the game. And the Mounties took the lead for good in the sixth when Stefania Aradillas lined a RBI double to score Niaraye Ceaser.

Long Beach had the bases loaded on two separate occasions but came up empty handed. In the third, Rivas lined into an inning-ending double play and in the sixth, freshman Meghan Rogers (St. Joseph HS) flied out to deep left field to end the Vikings' threat.

Ayala took the loss for Long Beach despite allowing just two runs (one earned) and seven hits. Sanchez went the distance for Mt. SAC, allowing one run and two hits for the victory.

The Vikings return to action on Thursday (Mar 27) when they travel to El Camino College for a 3 p.m. SCC game.