A slugfest was the last thing the Pasadena City College softball team expected when it visited Compton College for a South Coast Conference crossover game on Thursday. The Lancers opened a 9-3 lead only to the see the Tartars tie it 9-9. But the Lancers responded with five runs in the sixth and stayed perfect this season at 5-0 with a 14-9 triumph after the game was called in the seventh due to darkness.
PCC collected 14 hits, 12 walks, and stole 12 bases (three by middle infielder Alex Howard). After Compton clawed back to tie it in the bottom of the fifth, the Lancers went to work in the top of the sixth. Rightfielder Leilani Montanez bunted for a single, then came around to score on leftfielder Amber Ingram's triple to right center. Catcher Jeneve Medrano and centerfielder Nathalia Velasquez delivered RBI singles before first baseman Amanda Flores ripped a 2-run triple to the right-center gap to make it a 5-run cushion.
PCC head coach Monica Tantlinger called on Britney Lopez to pitch two scoreless innings in relief (with 3 Ks) as Lopez picked up her second circle win.
Velasquez continued her season-long hitting explosion as she batted 3-for-4 with three RBI and raised her batting average to .706. Montanez was 3-for-4 and Ingram and Flores each were 2-for-3. Third baseman Kaylee Medrano was 1-for-3 and drew three walks.
PCC visits defending state champ Cypress on Saturday (10:30 a.m.) and then plays a second game v. Canyons at 12:30 p.m.