LBCC Vikings baseball closed out their three game series against the El Camino Warriors on Saturday at El Camino with a 16-10 win. The team swept the Warriors in all three games of their series.
The Vikings trailed the Warriors 2-0 in the first and second inning. With two on base at the top of the third inning, Moises Guzman (31) hit a home run putting the Vikings on the board and in the lead.
By the end of the sixth inning, the team had increased their runs to 8, with starting pitcher Evan Vazquez (2), holding the Warriors to only two runs.
“Vazquez came out a little timid in the first inning, but he got stronger as it went on,” said head coach Casey Crook.
At the top of the seventh, the Vikings brought their runs up to ten. After El Camino scored a third run, a pitching change was made by the Vikings and Max Shea (40), was brought in. A final pitching change was made again after the Warriors scored a fourth run and the Vikings brought in their closing pitcher, Marcellus Henry (24).
“We have to get better in the bullpen; more consistent, throwing strikes and coming out,” Crook said.
The seventh inning ended with the Vikings only holding a two point lead to the Warriors. However, the eighth inning was where they secured their place for a win.
An additional six runs were scored in the eighth by Raul Garcia (19), Evan Vazquez (2), Alex Seguine (3), Malik Clayton (6), Justin Santoyo (10), and Kamau Neighbors (1). Henry held the Warriors to 8 for the rest of the inning.
The Vikings stayed at 16 for the final inning, while the Warriors scored two more runs. The Vikings took the victory at the end of the ninth inning, making the final score 16-10.
“I played pretty good. I had a better game last week, but throughout the week I did good and I’m happy we won,” Guzman (31) said.
Guzman had four runs batted in during his six chances this game, and has been a strong hitter for the Vikings so far this season
Crook said, “Even though it was sloppy, I’m pretty happy with these guys. We messed up a pop-up play today, but our guys at the plate are taking great at bats.”
The Vikings have another three game series this week versus Mt. Sac on Tuesday at Mt. Sac, Thursday at home, and Saturday at Mt. Sac.