Long Beach City College baseball scores big as they defeated Cypress College on the road with a finishing three man home run by Xander McLaurin in the final inning making the score 12-7 on Tuesday.
The Vikings baseball arrived at Cypress college to potentially extend their strong season start. As LBCC hoped to start a win streak and extend their wins in their season to 6-2.
Pitcher Dylan Proost provided a strong four runless innings only allowing two runs in the bottom of the fifth while finishing his performance with six innings pitched and just one strikeout.
“It didn’t feel like I did my best stuff today but still I was up there and able to compete,” Proost said. “I think as a team we did well today. We had some errors but we came through as we battled back with the bats.”
While first baseman Ryan Geck hit a solo home run in the top of the second inning and shortstop Olin Snakenborg with a two man home run in the third brought in a decent lead for the vikings.
Yet Cypress responded with two runs in the bottom of the fifth while the Vikings made errors, allowing three runs in the seventh and a home run by right fielder Jack Burkle in the eighth.
Vikings head coach Casey Crook believed the team did a great job with the offense, defense and the pitching line in regards to how they managed to defeat Cypress.
“Cypress is a good team, they’ve been very offensive this year so we gave them something,” Coach Crook said in regards to Cypress college aggressiveness of offense.
Despite Cypress’s efforts to a comeback, Vikings right fielder Xander McLaurin was the hero of the team as he hit a three man home run in the top of the ninth.
“I decided to make some adjustments during the game since I was 0-5,” Mclaurin said. “But hitting that just makes it really special. Just having a mind set to be the guy in front of you during the inning and let the game take care of itself.”
The Vikings also won against Fullerton on Friday, extending their winning streak.
“Our offense is so great I think we got a chance to win anything and they have been,” Coach Crook said in regards to the next game. “Our pitchers have been improving, as our pitching improves we can play with anybody around here right now.”
The Vikings conference season begins Feb. 20 with two away games and finally a home game Feb. 24 all against Pasadena City College.