Box Score | Season Stats

February 27, 2007

Baseball:

Long Beach drops conference opener to L.A. Habor 11-7

The Long Beach City College baseball team suffered an 11-7 loss to Los Angeles Harbor College in its South Coast Conference opener on Tuesday at Joe Hicks Memorial Field.

The Vikings appeared to be well on their way to the win after rallying for three runs in the fifth and another two runs in the sixth. But Harbor scored eight runs over the final three innings to erase a 7-3 seventh-inning Long Beach lead.

Sophomore Josh Williams put together another quality start for the Vikings. He allowed six runs (only two earned) and scattered 10 hits over eight innings as he left the game with a 7-6 LBCC advantage.

In the ninth, Harbor banged out four hits to score five runs to come-from-behind for the win. The big blow came on a two-run double by Harbor designated hitter Eric Naefke off LBCC closer Keith Chipman to give the Seahawks the lead.

Chipman (3-2) earned the loss, allowing three runs and three hits in one-third innings pitched.

Sophomore center fielder Chris Cordova led the Vikings at the plate, going 3 for 4 with 2 RBI and a run scored. Sophomore right fielder Daniel Prieto and freshman DH Derek Wurtz also had 2 RBI for LBCC.

Naefke was 4 for 5 with 2 RBI to lead Harbor (8-9, 1-0 SCC). Francisco Serrano (2-0) pitched three innings of scoreless relief to pick up the win.

The loss dropped Long Beach to 7-11 overall and 0-1 in SCC play. The Vikings return to action on Thursday when they host Pasadena City College in a 2 pm conference game.