The Long Beach City College softball team traveled to Costa Mesa, CA to compete in a doubleheader on Friday featuring games against the Orange Coast College Pirates and the Southwestern College Jaguars. The Vikings put on a show in both games by utilizing clutch, two-out hitting and timely pitching en route to two victories.
In the first game of the twin bill, the Vikings were slow to get their feet underneath them. After sophomore starting pitcher Annisa Hamilton (Downey, CA) set down the side in order in the bottom of the first inning, the Pirates jumped on the board the following inning by plating three runs to grab a 3-0 lead after two full frames.
Despite the big inning by the Pirates, Long Beach responded quickly. Sophomore second baseman Daisy Velasquez (Bellflower, CA) slapped a single to score freshman left fielder Sierra Torrez (Stockton, CA) who reached via error. Freshman first baseman Alissa Cienfuegos (Carson, CA) followed a batter later by hitting a groundball to the pitch, forcing freshman shortstop Amanda McCalip (Bellflower, CA) across the dish to trim the deficit to 2-3.
After Orange Coast scored another run the ensuing half inning, the Vikings came back with a vengeance in the top of the fourth inning by etching an eight spot on the scoreboard.
In a merry-go-round of an inning, the Vikings began with a bases-loaded groundout to the pitcher off the barrel of Torrez, scoring freshman third baseman Denise Flores (Carson, CA). McCalip followed with a sacrifice groundout to the shortstop to push across freshman right fielder Faith Hernandez (Downey, CA).
A massive two-out rally ensued for the Vikings after the initial two runs, as the Vikings connected for six-consecutive two-out hits.
Freshman designated player Julia Juarez (Long Beach, CA) punched a single up the middle to score Flores to begin the streak. Cienfuegos followed suit by drilling a single to center field as well, plating Velasquez. Freshman center fielder Alvia Soulliere (Paramount, CA) kept the single train chugging by poking a base-knock, pushing across Juarez. Flores and Hernandez continued to cart the hot Viking bats by each punching in RBI-singles to push the score to 10-4.
After the big fourth inning by the Vikings, they looked to their pitchers to complete the contest. Cienfuegos, who entered the game in the bottom of the third inning, labored to allow five runs, but also struck out five Pirates. Freshman closer Vanessa Montanez (Lakewood, CA) came in with one out in the fifth inning and slammed the door by allowing no runs and fanning two to earn a save and hand LBCC a 10-8 victory.
In game two, the Vikings took on Southwestern for the second time this season in homes of completing a series sweep.
The middle of the Viking's order consisting of Velasquez, Juarez, and Cienfuegos did the bulk of the damage by going a combined 7-for-9 with two RBI and five runs scored. The following trio of batters made up of Flores, Soulliere, and Montanez came through huge by each recording an RBI in the game.
After Southwestern grabbed an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning, Long Beach battled back in the ensuing half inning to plate three runs. Flores kicked off the rally by singling to right field, followed by a sacrifice fly to right field off the bat of Soulliere. Montanez capped off the inning by poking a single to left field to hand the Vikings a 3-1 advantage.
After starting pitcher Montanez blanked the Jaghuars in the second inning, Cienfuegos expanded the Viking advantage by barreling a two-out double to right-center field, plating Juarez and Vasquez to bring the score to 5-1.
The Jaguars did not give up after the first two frames, as they continually chipped away at the Long Beach lead. However, the resilience of Montanez was too strong as she held off the Jaguars by earning a complete-game victory en route to a 5-4 win.
Montanez was clutch on the hill by earning the victory and recording a pair of strikeouts. She is -0 on the season thus far. Cienfuegos was a perfect 3-for-3 in the game with two RBI and a run scored. Velasquez and Juarez added two hits as well.
The Vikings (4-1) will return home on Tuesday, February 7 to face off against the Pasadena City College Lancers at 3 p.m.