LAKEWOOD – The Lakewood baseball team blew a three-run lead in the top of the seventh inning but pulled out a walk-off victory against Long Beach Poly, 7-6, with a run in the bottom of the seventh Wednesday in a Moore League game at Lakewood High School.

Poly had tied the game at 6-6 in the top of the seventh inning before the Lancers scored the winning run on a wild pitch and throwing error by the Jackrabbits.

Lakewood coach Spud O’Neil was relieved to see his team benefit from an opponent’s error rather than the other way around.

“We’ve been losing on plays like that at the end,” O’Neil said. “Hopefully the tide is turning.”

Lathan Rivas started for Lakewood (9-15 overall, 6-2 league) and pitched 4 1/3 innings. He allowed four hits and two runs, both earned, struck out five and walked two.

Jayden Pea earned the win after blowing the save for Lakewood. Pea allowed three runs on three hits and struck out one.

The Lancers’ Anthony Rueda went 2 for 4 with a double and drove in a run. Joel Melena went 2 for 4 with a double and an RBI.

Lakewood led 4-3 in the sixth inning before extending its lead with runs.

Xavier Nunez reached on an error and later scored from second on a dropped fly ball off the bat of Rueda. Melena drove in Rueda with a hard single to put Lakewood ahead 6-3.

Long Beach Poly (14-9, 5-3) mounted its comeback in the seventh. With one out, Tate Hammond hit a ground-rule double to center that scored Will Trunnelle and cut Lakewood’s lead to 6-4.

With runners on second and third and one out, Caleb Safotu drove in Az Zuger with a ground ball. Fausto Gaxiola III followed with a single to left field that drove in Hammond and tied the game 6-6.

Long Beach Poly starter Ryan King lasted four innings, allowed five hits and three runs (two earned) and struck out four.

Malakai Pruitt suffered the loss for Poly. He pitched three innings, allowed three runs on three hits and struck out two.

Gaxiola led Poly at the plate by going 2 for 4 with a double and two RBIs.

In the bottom of the seventh, Lakewood’s Nick Gallegos reached on an error and advanced to second on a wild pitch. He took off for third base on another wild pitch and drew an errant throw to third base, which allowed Gallegos to score the winning run.

Poly coach Soloman Williams highlighted his team’s defense issues in the loss.

“I don’t know if we made six or seven errors,” Williams said. “But you can’t beat a good team like Lakewood kicking the ball around like that.”