Baseball: Errors costly as Vikings drop home opener to Orange Coast, 7-4

The Long Beach City College baseball team suffered a 7-4 non-conference loss to visiting Orange Coast College on Thursday in the Vikings' 2011 home opener at Joe Hicks Memorial Field.

Orange Coast has now won the first two contests of the three-game series. The Vikings (1-2) and Pirates (6-0) close out the set on Friday in Costa Mesa at 2 p.m.

Errors were costly as Orange Coast took advantage of three LBCC miscues to score three unearned runs.

A two-out error in the top of the first inning allowed Orange Coast to score the first two runs of the game off LBCC starting pitcher Omar Jimenez (Lakewood HS).

OCC's defense was also shaky early, as the Vikings scored three unearned runs off the Pirates' Cory Davis in the bottom of the first.

After two quick outs, sophomore third baseman Andy Hernandez (Paramount HS) singled up the middle. Sophomore center fielder Joe Lent (Los Alamitos HS) followed with a ground ball to short, but Jordan Beck's throw to first sailed wide, allowing the inning to continue. Davis then nailed freshman designated hitter Robert Ponce (Banning HS) to load the bases.

Davis still couldn't find his control and hit freshman shortstop Anthony Salas (Banning HS) to force in Hernandez for LBCC's first run.

Freshman right fielder Gene Gonzalez (Warren HS) followed with a grounder to Beck at short, but he once again threw wild to first to allow two more Viking runs to come in.

After a rocky first, Davis finally settled down and tossed four innings of scoreless ball.

OCC added a run in the second, two runs in the third, and single runs in the fifth and seventh innings.

LBCC scored its final run in the bottom of the sixth. Ponce led off with a single to left and advanced to second after a sacrifice bunt by Salas. Gonzalez' groundout moved Ponce to third before freshman second baseman Derrick Garcia (Mayfair HS) came through with a two-out base hit up the middle for the RBI.

Hernandez led Long Beach at the plate, going 2 for 5 with a run. He also pitched a scoreless ninth inning and struck out one.

Jimenez (0-1) picked up the loss for Long Beach after allowing five runs (two earned) and just three hits over four innings. He struck out two and walked one.

Beck was 2 for 4 with 3 RBI to lead the Orange Coast offense. Davis (1-0) earned the win, allowing three unearned runs and five hits over five innings. He struck out two and walked none. Josh Evans tossed the final 1 1/3 innings to pick up his second save of the season.