It was a week of highs and lows for the Pasadena City College softball team. A 13-inning win over Chaffey Tuesday was followed by Wednesday's euphoric comeback triumph at Cerritos College, 12-6, But the Lancers peaked it seemed at that point as flat home performances resulted in a 10-1, 7-inning loss to South Coast Conference North Division leader Mt. San Antonio on Thursday, then Friday's 6-2 defeat against Southwestern in a non-conference game.
PCC is 24-14 overall and now 7-4 in the SCC North with one conference contest remaining on Monday, April 23 against visiting East Los Angeles College. Game time is 2:30 p.m. at Robinson Park. The Lancers are No. 14 in the most current SoCal RPI ratings as a postseason playoff spot seems inevitable despite the last two defeats.
Against Southwestern, the Lancers took a 2-0, first-inning lead on RBI singles byfirst baseman Amanda Flores and centerfielder Angel Urbina. It went downhill from there as the Jaguars (No. 15 in RPI) relied on Trudi Nixon (18-7 pitching record), who retired 12 straight Lancers and finished with a 5-hitter (no earned runs) and struck out seven. Southwestern bats were led by Rebecca McKown who lined a 3-run double in the third inning and Nicole Correia, who slugged a 2-run homer over the centerfield fence in the fourth.
In Thursday's defeat, PCC lost a chance to share the SCC North title with Mt. SAC. The Lancers were 4-hit by Briana Wheeler (nine Ks) as Leilani Montanez batted 2-for-3. Mt. SAC scored four runs in the first inning.
On Wednesday, PCC rallied from 6-1 down, scoriing five runs in the sixth and three more in the seventh to beat the Falcons. The win snapped a 16-game losing streak over 11 seasons in games played at Cerritos. Last year, PCC snapped a 29-game overall losing streak between the two colleges.
Reseve designated player Amber Ingram slugged 2-run doubles in each of the last two innings. Nathalia Velasquez went 5-for-5 while Angelica Lopez was 3-for-5 with four runs scored and two RBI. Briana Hernandez, playing second base, went 3-for-5 with three runs scored, a double and two RBI. Shortstop Alex Howard batted 2-for-4 with a double and two RBI. Angel Wintercorn threw three no-hit innings of relief to earn her 10th win.