Sophomore starting pitcher Marcellus Henry was brilliant in his eight and two-thirds innings of work. He struck out three while only allowing three runs on five hits on route to his longest outing of the season in the 11-3 victory over L.A. Harbor
When asked about his adjustment from a reliever last year to a starter this year, Henry said, “Over the summer every day, I just keep throwing, keep lifting, get my energy up and now I am able to throw 100 pitches every game.”
Henry was given an early cushion as the Vikings struck for four runs in the first two innings.
A two run shot by sophomore catcher Malik Clayton put the Vikings up two after one.
His four home runs this year are four more than he hit in high school.
When asked about this surge in power Clayton said, “The key has been ultra-confidence in myself. Going up there thinking ‘nobody can beat me…’ In college, my confidence has been way up there now.”
After a single by freshman shortstop Olin Snakenborg and a double by freshman outfielder A.J. Quezada, the Vikings had runners at second and third with nobody out.
Sophomore first baseman Will Schwab grounded to short to extend the lead to 3-0.
With a runner on third and one out, freshman outfielder Cody Lagafuaina placed a beautiful suicide squeeze bringing in the fourth run of the ball game.
Harbor countered with an RBI double by sophomore first baseman Julian Rodriguez in the fourth cutting the deficit to 4-1.
The game was scoreless for the next two innings, but Henry found himself in a jam in the seventh inning with runners on first and second with only one out.
He spotted a fastball on the inside corner causing the batter to tap a ball back to Marcellus on the pitch.
The pitcher fired to third baseman Justin Santoyo who threw the ball across the diamond for the rare 1-5-3 double play.
“So at first we were trying to throw a fastball outside. I shook it off when inside with it. He hits it back up the middle and I make the play…Best double play you can ever get in your lifetime” Henry said.
In the bottom half, the Vikings put up another three runs thanks to a two-run double by sophomore outfielder Raul Garcia and a single by Santoyo.
LBCC tacked on four more in the eighth with an RBI single by freshman utility Davis Grawey, a double by Santoyo, single by Evan Vazquez and a balk by L.A. Harbor.
Harbor put up two runs in the ninth, but LBCC had the last laugh in their 11-3 victory.
The Vikings improved their record to 8-3 in conference and 11-13 overall.
LBCC looks to sweep Harbor in the third game of the series on Saturday.