Four detrimental Viking errors lead to a 6-4 loss to the Rio Hondo Roadrunners on Thursday.
LBCC starting pitcher Marcellus Henry worked six innings and gave up six runs, but only two were earned.
The opposing pitcher freshman Bryan Garcia worked six innings while only allowing four hits and two earned runs for the Roadrunners.
The Vikings accumulated three errors within the first three innings, allowing six runs in the process.
The top of the lineup got it going for Rio Hondo. Sophomores Daniel DeLucas and Aaron Gutierrez both scored twice in their first two trips to the plate, giving their team a 2-0 lead.
In the bottom half of the first, a sacrifice bunt by freshman infielder Davis Grawey allowed freshman outfielder Danny Rodriguez to score from first. Rodriguez went first to third and made it home after a throwing error, bringing the score to 2-1 Roadrunners.
Coming off of a game with two hits and a homer, freshman infielder Davis Grawey again reached base twice, solidifying himself at the top of the Viking lineup.
“To me, it’s about baserunners, baserunners score runs and that’s what I am trying to supply for the team,” said Grawey.
After a couple of walks and errors, Rio Hondo’s sophomore center fielder Nolan Anguiano drove in two with a double to left field extending the lead to 6-1.
The Vikings chipped away at the lead scoring a run in each the third and the fifth thanks to an RBI groundout by sophomore third baseman Justin Santoyo and an RBI single by sophomore catcher Malik Clayton, making it 6-3 Roadrunners.
The 6-3 score stayed the same until the ninth inning when sophomore first baseman Will Schwab laced a single up the middle cutting the deficit to two.
The Vikings rallied late and had runners on second and third with two outs, but a groundout to the shortstop ended the game.
Freshman reliever Dominic Versluis closed out the game for Rio Hondo. He held the Vikings to just three hits and one run in his three innings of work.
Head coach Casey Crook was not at the game due to a personal matter. “We’re feeling for him, but we gotta stay positive,” said Schwab.
Assistant coach Phill Visico was the interim manager for the game. It is unsure when coach Crook will be back.
LBCC falls to 3-2 in conference play and 7-12 overall.
They hope to avoid the sweep and take game three at Rio Hondo on Saturday at 12:00 p.m.