Rider Gardner has a simple approach in his role on this year's Pasadena City College baseball team. When the Lancers get the lead late in a game, he wants the ball. PCC head coach Pat McGee has obliged the sophomore reliever with premium results. The closer picked up his state-leading sixth save on Tuesday as PCC led mid-game, fell behind, then rallied to beat host Cerritos, 5-3.
Gardner, who has saves in each of his last four appearances, allowed a single to open the eighth inning, then retired the last six Falcons in order as SoCal #12-ranked PCC improved to 12-6 overall and upped its South Coast Conference record to 5-2.
Long Beach City is only by percentage points ahead in the SCC race at 3-1 as different teams in the conference have staggered schedules due to the cancellations from the heavy rain that hit Los Angeles County the past few weeks.
PCC starting pitcher Kyle Noell also continues to impress with six strong innings, allowing just six hits and one run but receiving a no decision. Noell and Cerritos starter Franky Lopez (four innings) were locked in a scoreless duel early on.
In the sixth, the Lancers broke through with two runs. Rightfielder Damien Ureta led off with a bunt single, leftfielder Aryonis Harrison drew a walk, and first baseman Jake Trabbie singled to load the bases. Designated hitter Jakob Guardado, who has had a knack for coming up with clutch hits in close games, did just that by following with a 2-run double to left center.
After Cerritos (5-10, 1-3 in SCC play) cut the lead to 2-1 with a run off Noell in the sixth, the Falcons then grabbed a 3-2 advantage in the seventh on a 2-RBI single by Jason Givens off reliever Ben Griffith.
In the top of the eighth, the Lancers regained the lead at 4-3. After Guardado and catcher Matthew Delgado drew walks, third baseman Toshiki Kuriya bunted them over to second and third. Centerfielder Tommy Castillo then delivered a 2-RBI double to center. In the ninth, Trabbie added a sacrifice fly after shortstop Jack Esguerra walked, moved to second on a Harrison sacrifice bunt and to third on a wild pitch.
Griffith (1-1) collected his first collegiate mound win thanks to the short rally and teammate Gardner's finish.
PCC drew 11 walks by four Cerritos pitchers and remarkably ended the first, second and fourth innings by stranding the bases loaded. In the sixth after Guardado's hit, PCC had three runners on base before the Falcons again wiggled out of another jam. In all, Pasadena left a season-high 17 runners on base. In five games this year, the team has stranded 13 or more baserunners and yet the Lancers are a 4-1 in those contests.
"That just means we do a good job of getting runners on base," McGee said of the statistic. "The end result is all that matters, and right now we're scoring more than the opponents. We use patience at the plate and it's paying off.
McGee said his team is executing well in all facets of the game.
"I can't say enough about our pitching staff. The group is stepping up in conference play. Over the first 18 games, Rider, Kyle, Coleman (Mitchell), Jakob and Ben have collectively made numerous big performances for us. Our outfield defense has been exceptional all year with Aryonis putting on an almost daily clinic in left, Tommy covering plenty of ground in center, and Damien making plays in right. Jake quietly became one of the best defensive first basemen we've had in our program. Matt Delgado is another strong defender behind the plate."
The Lancers continue their 3-game series v. Cerritos on Thursday, Mar. 9 in a 2:30 p.m. first pitch at Brookside Park's Jackie Robinson Memorial Field.