Softball: No. 20 Vikings hang on for 4-2 win over Harbor; Angel, Hutchinson one win from 100

The No. 20 state-ranked Long Beach City College softball team edged visiting Los Angeles Harbor College 4-2 in a South Coast Conference game at LBCC on Tuesday.

The win improved Long Beach to 15-7-1 overall and 7-4 in the SCC. Co-head coaches Melissa Angel and Jack Hutchinson need to just one more win to reach 100 at LBCC.

The Vikings had just three hits in the game, but took advantage of four Harbor errors in the bottom of the third inning to score all four of its runs.

Sophomore first baseman Michelle Contreras (Norwalk HS) started the rally with her two-out walk. Freshman designated player Cassie Garcia (Banning HS) followed with a grounder to third base that was misplayed by Melanie Vazquez for an error.

The Vikings made sure to capitalize on the play. Sophomore right fielder Brittany Holden responded with a RBI single to drive in Contreras. The inning continued when Vazquez couldn't handle another grounder off the bat of sophomore shortstop Melissa Schaefer (El Segundo HS).

With the bases loaded, sophomore third baseman Melissa McDougall (Millikan HS) lined a two-run single to center that drove in Garcia and Holden. On the throw to the plate, Holden knocked the ball away from Harbor catcher Larissa Sandoval, which allowed Schaefer to score all the way from first to give LBCC a commanding 4-0 lead.

Harbor (16-7, 6-5 SCC) finally got on the board in the top of the fifth when Jasmine McNeal hit a two-out, bases-loaded single off LBCC starting pitcher Justine Meddings (Kennedy HS) to drive in a pair of runs.

Freshman Angela Arias (Western HS) closed out the game with 3 1/3 scoreless innings for her first save of the season. She struck out five and allowed two hits. Meddings picked up the win to improve to 9-1 this season. She allowed two runs and seven hits over 3 2/3 innings.  

Shawnae Campbell (13-7) was the hard-luck loser for Harbor. She went the distance, allowing three hits and four unearned runs. She struck out eight and walked five. McNeal led the Seahawks at the plate, going 2 for 3 with 2 RBI and a double.

Angel and Hutchinson get their first chance at win No. 100 on Thursday (Mar 24) when the Vikings travel to East Los Angeles College for a 3 p.m. SCC game.