Sophomore rightfielder Samantha Diaz was determined to not let a Glendale rally get the best of the Pasadena City College softball team on Tuesday. Diaz broke a 5-5 tie with the game-winning RBI in the bottom of the sixth, then made a sensational diving catch to rob a hit in the seventh as the Lancers outlasted the Vaqueros, 6-5, Tuesday at Robinson Park.
The Lancers went above the .500 mark at 5-4 and are 4-1 in their last five contests. Each of the team's last three victories were by 1-run margins.
PCC led 5-2 before Glendale scored three runs in the sixth on back-to-back RBI doubles by Trinit Akau and Arleth Lima, followed by an error that led to the fifth run. In the bottom of the sixth, Olivia Nanez led off and was robbed of a home run on a great over-the-shoulder catch at the fence by Glendale leftfielder Amber Hernandez. First baseman Desiree Huerta walked and catcher Jennie Chacon singled and along with a wild pitch that put runners on second and third. That brought up Diaz, an All-South Coast Conference First Team selection as a freshman, who promptly lined a hit to center that scored pinch runner Melony Hernandez with the decisive run.
Diaz's catch in the seventh helped reliever Elena Bahnimtewa go on to a 1-2-3 seventh as the freshman is 4-0 in the pitching circle. Letterman starter Austyn Helmuth pitched the first 5.1 innings, and is making a case to bat more often as she was 2-for-2 with a sacrifice fly (now batting .500 in 10 at bats).
In the non-conference win, sophomore shortstop Danielle Ruiz batted 2-for-3 with a double and the second-year Chacon 2-for-2 and a walk. Nanez, PCC's sophomore centerfielder, was 1-for-3 with a RBI double.
Ruiz and freshman second baseman Ahylie Rosales both lead the team's regulars in batting with identical .375 averages. Bahnimtewa has a 2.49 ERA in 19.2 innings to lead the pitchers. The pitching staff has allowed only 12 walks in 56 innings this season (an average of just 1.3 per game) while opponents have surrendered 28 free passes to PCC hitters.
PCC next hosts 2-time defending CCCAA state champion and current No. 2-state ranked Mt. San Antonio (6-0 overall) on Tuesday, Feb. 18 as the Lancers put their perfect 3-0 South Coast Conference record on the line. Game time is 2:30 p.m.