Vikings Dominate in Shutout Victory

The Long Beach City College softball team delivered a commanding performance, securing a 9-0 shutout victory against Riverside City College on Wednesday afternoon.

"Today was a great team win! We're excited to have Hailey join our pitching staff," said Head Coach and Director of Softball Operations Megan Martinez. "Our defense and offense continue to develop and it's only the beginning."

The Vikings struck first in the opening frame as right fielder May Ramirez capitalized on a passed ball to give Long Beach an early 1-0 lead.

A relentless fourth inning saw the Vikings extend their advantage. Pinch runner Julissa Montes scored on an error, and left fielder Sienna Rievley reached base and scored on a single from pinch hitter Mikaela Pacheco. Shortstop Jaela Ruiz then delivered with an infield single, bringing home center fielder Alesa Gonzalez, before Ramirez capped off the inning with an RBI groundout to push the lead to 5-0.

The offense kept rolling in the fifth, as Gonzalez lined an RBI single to left field to plate inch runner Leila Rodriguez. Ruiz then delivered the knockout punch, smashing a bases-clearing triple to bring in three more runs and seal the dominant 9-0 win.

On the mound, Hailey Harris (W, 1-0) was exceptional, pitching five innings, only allowing one hit. She allowed no runs, issued two walks, and struck out eight batters, showcasing her dominance and securing her first win of the season.

"My road to today's game was far from easy, but I feel so blessed to be here at LBCC and surrounded by the best teammates," said Harris. "I had a lot of fun today and couldn't be more excited about the future of this team. I'll choose us every time."

The Vikings will return to the field on Friday, February 7 at Saddleback College at 1 p.m.