Softball: Vikings’ four-game winning streak snapped by No. 5 Mt. SAC

The Long Beach City College softball team saw its four-game winning streak come to an end after an 8-0 South Coast Conference loss to visiting Mt. San Antonio College on Tuesday at LBCC's Viking Softball Field.

The loss dropped Long Beach to 12-5 overall and 5-2 in the SCC while No. 5 state-ranked Mt. SAC improved to 12-3 and 7-0 in conference play.

The Vikings' bats couldn't keep up with Mt. SAC starting pitcher Emily Seidel as she tossed a no-hitter and struck out 13 batters in the complete-game win.

Despite the lopsided final score, the game remained close for five innings.

LBCC starter Candice Shadwell (pictured) nearly matched Seidel as she held the Mounties to just one run and three hits over the first four innings. She escaped a pair of bases loaded jams with minimal damage. Shadwell struck out Holly Moorin with the bases loaded to end the first inning and then got Marisa Ayala to ground out with the bases loaded in the third after the Mounties had scored a run.

But the Mounties added an unearned run off Shadwell in the fifth and then broke the game open in the sixth with three more runs. Caitlin King hit a solo homerun to lead off the inning and Moorin drove in a pair of a double.

Mt. SAC touched LBCC relief pitcher Marissa Frese for three runs in the seventh to close out the scoring.

Shadwell picked up the loss to fall to 8-5 on the season. She allowed five runs (four earned) and six hits over six innings. Shadwell struck out five and walked seven.

Long Beach returns to action on Thursday (Mar. 7) when it travels to El Camino College for a 3 p.m. SCC game. The Vikings will play their next four games on the road before returning home on March 14 to host El Camino College Compton Center.

Photo by Chris Ruiz