Report by LBCC’s Chris Ruiz

The 2009 Long Beach City College softball season came to a disappointing end after the Vikings’ 4-2 loss to Los Angeles Mission College in Game 3 of their Southern California Regional Playoff series.  Earlier in the afternoon, Long Beach forced a third and deciding game after a big 6-0 win in Game 2. Unfortunately, LBCC couldn’t carry that momentum into the rubber game.

In Game 2, the Vikings jumped on Mission early, posting three runs in the bottom of the first inning. Shortstop Rose Vargas smashed a bases-clearing double to the left-center field gap to give LBCC the early 3-0 advantage.  Left fielder Vanessa Samudio smacked a RBI triple in the second and drove in two more runs in the fourth with a double to put Long Beach up 6-0.

Samudio was a perfect 3 for 3 with 3 RBI and was just a homerun short of the cycle. Vargas also drove in three runs and went 2 for 3.  Sophomore Christine Gonzalez went the distance in Game 2 for the win, scattering nine hits in the shutout. Allyson Salas earned the loss in Game 2 for Mission, allowing six runs (four earned) and seven hits in four innings.

In Game 3, it was Mission’s turn to strike early. Amanda Gutierrez led off the game with a single and came in to score three batters later on a RBI single by Evie Lugo.

The Vikings jumped ahead in the bottom of the fourth. Third baseman Valentina Nabayan hit a one-out single. Vargas followed with a double to the gap and went to third base on the throw to home trying to get pinch runner Caitlin Lopez. The throw got away from Mission catcher Julienne Jimenez which allowed Vargas to come all the way around for the run and the 2-1 LBCC lead.

Long Beach appeared to have momentum back on its side, but the Eagles quickly reclaimed it with a big three-run fifth inning.  Mission opened the top of the fifth with four straight singles, including a run-scoring hit from Diane Ravago. A fielder’s choice grounder by Amanda Rivera brought in another run, and Stephanie Durazo walked to force in the third score of the inning.

Now trailing 4-2, Long Beach went down in order in the bottom of the fifth and sixth innings.

In the seventh, Vargas led off with a single to keep hope alive for the Vikings. Gonzalez flew out to center field, and a double-play line drive off the bat of second baseman Alyssa Aguirre ended the ball game and the Vikings’ season.

Vargas (2 for 3, 1 run, 1 RBI) and Nabayan (2 for 3) led LBCC at the plate.

Gonzalez closed her LBCC career with the loss to end the season with a 25-11 overall record. She allowed four runs and eight hits, but struck out seven in the complete-game loss.

Jimenez (2 for 4, 1 run) and Lugo (2 for 4, 1 RBI, 1 run) both had two hits for Mission (31-10). Salas improved to 23-10 with the win. She went the distance and gave up two runs (one earned) and four hits.

Long Beach ends its season with a 32-14 overall record under second-year co-head coach Melissa Angel and Jack Hutchinson.