The Long Beach City College softball team defeated the Chaffey College Panthers by a score of 7-0, improving their record to 7-7 and get back to the 500 mark.
LBCC sophomore starting pitcher Alissa Cienfuegos pitched a scoreless 7 inning game against Chaffey. She sets the tone of the game in the first inning with a strike out on Chaffey’s first batter up. “I felt my spins were working really well today. I didn’t really have the velocity I wanted, but I was trying to spin the ball more than throw hard,” said Cienfuegos. With bases loaded in the top of the second inning, and help from freshman center fielder Emilee Hoppe who made a nice diving catch, Cienfuegos was able to get out ot the inning, preventing Chaffey from scoring.
The 4th inning was a big one for LBCC, as they scored 5 of their 7 runs. Freshman outfielder Sabrina Rodriguez, pinch running for Cienfuegos, advanced to third as freshman shortstop Raven Agapay advanced to second, after a sacrifice from freshman center fielder Emilee Hoppe. Freshman infielder Elena Viscarra hit a single to right and Rodriguez scored the first run for the Vikings. Sophomore first baseman Julia Juarez hit a single to right field, thus advancing a runner to third and allowing Agapay to score. “I had an extra relaxing day and I actually came back with a bang,” says Juarez. Freshman third baseman Yliana Bernal singled and brought home freshman outfielder Lauren Blevins, and sophomore catcher Samantha Ontiveros on third. Finally, Ontiveros scores, ending the inning with 5 runs for the Vikings.
LBCC got 2 more runs in the 6th inning, as freshman infielder Jennifer Tobar hit a double and brings freshman infielder Ashley Pozo and freshman outfielder Celeste Gutierrez home. “Fortunately our team made less errors and we came through,” says Ontiveros. The Long Beach City College softball Vikings end the game with a 7 – 0 win.
“We’re a good group of girls that works hard, and today we only gave them 21 outs, which is really important. We played solid defense. Our pitchers hit their spots, and we really just did the key things offensively that we really needed to do,” said head coach, Megan Martinez.
Long Beach looks to open up conference play with a victory as they travel to face Cerritos on Feb. 22 at 3 p.m.