A 2-13 start to the 2022 season was a tough hole for the Pasadena City College softball team. But since that rough beginning, the Lancers have played far better. On Friday, PCC won its fourth game in the last six contests and improved to 9-8 in non-conference games with a 10-0, 5-inning mercy win over visiting Oxnard.

In the victory at Robinson Park, Pasadena (10-22 overall) scored a season high in runs and matched its season best in hits with 14 (done two other times). Rightfielder Jaimie Harris batted 3-for-3, launching her fourth home run, a double and driving in two RBI. Harris tops all Lancers in batting with a .367 average and is the team leader in eight different offensive categories including RBI with 20.

First baseman Marcella Ordonez was 2-for-3 with a pair of doubles while winning pitcher Kiley Kraft (9-4 record, three shutout innings) batted 2-for-2. Third baseman Priscilla Ortega, second baseman Montserra Fukumoto and leftfielder Giselle Lopez (a double) each collected two hits. Third baseman-pitcher Kimberly Dea was 1-for-2 with a double and pitched two perfect innings to close out the triumph.

PCC scored six runs in the first inning to take control. 

"The compete level is a lot better than when we were in that slump early in the season," said PCC head coach Monica Tantlinger. "We have a young team that has had to face some super talented, veteran teams inside the South Coast Conference. We may not be getting the results in those matchups, but we have done well in our non-conference schedule. It's encouraging to see improvement with some of our freshmen and the confidence level is also better as a squad. College softball has its learning curve and freshmen like Harris, Dea, Ordonez and Kraft have made big strides in the right direction."

PCC hosts Long Beach City College on Tuesday, April 12 in a 2:30 p.m. SCC game.