Longview Community College turned out to be a rude guest last week as the Lakers swept a three-game series from the Redlands Community College baseball team.
The Cougars dropped games by scores of 9-6, 10-3 and 13-1 to slip to 1-4 on the season. It was a costly series for Redlands as well with second baseman Petr Zyma separating his shoulder and now sidelined for up to two months. Backup catcher Chris Lane suffered a season-ending tear of the labrum in his right shoulder.
In the first game, Longview scored five runs in the fifth inning to secure the three-run win. Redlands used seven pitchers in the loss, with Aaron Luchterhand allowing three runs on four hits over five innings of work. The right-hander walked one and struck out nine batters. Relievers Tomas Duffek, Chance Beck, Ky Recker, Aaron Henage, Randon Ridling and Heath Wilda were tagged for a combined six runs off nine hits. The group struck out five batters over four innings of work.
The Cougars offense had 11 hits, getting a double from Wilda, Nick Rountree, Sam Shipway and Ryan Meek. Matt Burton added a triple but the Cougars left five runners stranded.
Wild, Rountree, Meek and Shipway went 2-for-4 in the loss, while Tom Ward and Tyler Lee had a hit each.
In the second game of the set, Matt Cartwright took the loss, allowing seven runs off nine hits over five innings, fanning five batters and walking four. Doug Carel threw two innings in relief, scattering two hits, three runs and a trio of walks and strikeouts.
The Cougars offense had four hits in the seven-run loss, with Blurton and Wilda having a hit each. Ward added an RBI single and Jared Wright a solo home run.
Longview followed that up with 16 hits in the 12-run demise of the Cougars. Dan Edwards shouldered the loss to RCC, allowing 10 runs off 12 hits and a walk. He fanned one batter in five innings. Recker was hit four times in relief, resulting in three runs for the Lakers.
Meanwhile, the Cougars struggled at the plate with five strikeouts and only four hits. Nathan Lucas and Meek doubled for Redlands, while Wilda and Burton each singled.