Sophomore pitcher Evan Vazquez’s 10 strong innings were not enough to propel the struggling LBCC offense over the El Camino College Warriors. The Warriors would prevail 4-3 after 11 innings.
Vazquez surrendered nine hits and struck out eight while only walking one in 10 innings of work.
This is Vazquez’s second straight start of eight innings or more with less than two walks. On top of that he has been in the lineup every game this season. “I just try to focus on every situation whether it’s on the mound or at the plate,” Vazquez said.
Over the last couple series, the Vikings have failed to bring in runners. On their three game losing streak, the Vikings have left over 10 runners on base in two of their losses.
LBCC was able to execute their offensive plays as they had multiple sacrifice bunts and a successful slash, but the Vikings are still looking for their key hit.
“We felt that Tuesday was going to be a low scoring game. We did bunt a lot. We also threw in a hit and run and a slash,” Vikings Head Coach Casey Crook said.
The Vikings first run of the day came in the third inning when sophomore catcher Malik Clayton grounded into a double play bringing in a run.
Freshman second baseman Reef Danner led off that third inning with a single up the middle and was advanced to third by a pair of bunt singles from freshman center fielder Xander McLaurin and sophomore third baseman Justin Santoyo.
After a solo home run in the fifth and a two-run seventh inning from the Warriors, the Vikings found themselves down 3-1.
With the bases loaded and one out in the bottom of the seventh inning, freshman right fielder Ryan Geck hit a sacrifice fly, scoring Danner and cutting the deficit to one.
Freshman shortstop Olin Snakenborg would then hit a line-drive single up the middle that scored McLaurin and evened the score at three.
Half of the Vikings 12 hits were up the middle, which is the approach at the plate Crook hones in on at practice. “We want our players to have a gap to gap, line drive approach,” Crook said.
El Camino’s sophomore reliever Pierce Kingston entered the game in the seventh and was lights out, holding the Vikings to no runs over 4.2 innings.
Kingston would pick up the win after an 11th-inning RBI single from sophomore catcher Juan Carlos Camarena put the Warriors up 4-3. The Vikings got a runner on in the bottom half, but a double play sealed the deal for El Camino.
“In order for us to finish the season on a high note the pitching staff is going to have to step up and pitch better,” Crook said
The Vikings look to take game two of the series on Thursday at El Camino College.