The Pasadena City College baseball team rallied to beat Compton, 9-7, on Tuesday and pulled to within one game of El Camino for first place in the South Coast Conference. The Lancers have two more games v. Compton and if they win both and El Camino loses one of two v. Mt. San Antonio, PCC would share the SCC crown and earn the highest conference seed based on beating ECC in their season series.
The Lancers (23-15 overall, 15-7 in SCC games) scored five runs in the first to take a 5-0 lead only to fall behind Compton, 7-6, after five innings. In the sixth, designated hitter Jakob Guardado doubled in the tying run. In the seventh, catcher Matthew Delgado walked with two outs, then shortstop Jack Esguerra singled before leftfielder Aryonis Harrison singled through the right side for an 8-7 PCC lead. In the eighth, third baseman Toshiki Kuriya belted his fifth home run for insurance.
Closer Rider Gardner pitched his state-tying ninth save, getting out of a situation with runners on first and third by striking out Jonathan Enriquez to end the game. Reliever Ben Grifftih has shined recently and he moved to 3-1 with 4 solid innings, allowing only two hits and one unearned run.
Seven different Lancers had 2-hit performances including Harrison, who was 2-for-3 and built on his school record of walks with two more for 39 and a stolen base. Delgado batted 2-for-3 with two RBI and a walk while Guardado went 2-for-4 with two RBI with a sacrifice fly. Esguerrra hit 2-for-4, centerfielder Tommy Castillo 2-for-5 and a steal, and second baseman Amaris Harrison hit 2-for-5 and a triple. It was the seventh time this season that PCC collected 15 or more hits.
Kuriya (2-for-5) is on a torrid run over the last six games. The sophomore from Japan is 11-for-21, seven walks, two homers, two doubles, and nine RBI in the streak. He has reached base an amazing 18 times in his last 29 plate appearances. Kuriya took over the team's batting lead for regulars at .361 (Amaris Harrison .391 in 46 at bats as platoon player). Kuriya's .488 on-base percentage is second in the SCC and Aryonis Harrison's .479 OBP is third.
"The sophomore group has really been catalysts for us," said PCC head coach Pat McGee. "Toshi and Aryonis reach base anytime they want and with Jakob and Jake Trabbie, the four have countless clutch at bats. Rider turned into a reliable late reliever and we have Coleman Mitchell who is leading the the conference in wins (seven). We're focusing on what we have to do to beat Compton this series, and not worrying about the other SCC teams."
PCC plays at Compton on Thursday, April 27 and then close out the conference/regular season on Friday, April 28 with a 2:30 p.m. contest v. the Tartars at Brookside Park's Jackie Robinson Field.