An A for effort and with a deceiving win-loss record due to so many close games, the Pasadena City College softball team is still in search of its first South Coast Conference victory. The Lancers are 4-21 overall, but are winless in 14 conference games after a 3-1, extra-inning loss to Los Angeles Harbor on Tuesday.
In the loss at PCC's off-campus home diamond-Robinson Park, the Lancers trailed 1-0 before catcher Lucero Alcaraz lined a double and leftfielder Alysa Rojas knocked her in with a single in the sixth inning. In the bottom of the seventh, third baseman Alexis Garcia ripped a double but was stranded there, sending it to extra innings.
Harbor, the team closest to PCC in the conference standings at 3-11, scored twice in the eighth, highlighted by a RBI double by Ashley Parra. The Seahawks winning pitcher Celeste Quintanilla set down PCC in order to clinch their win.
Quintanilla allowed just seven hits and one walk as she outdueled PCC's Ivy Avalos, who was outstanding with a complete game, 8-hitter.
Rojas and Alcaraz each were 2-for-4 for the PCC offense.
On March 29, PCC switched locations due to windy weather conditions in Pasadena and played its game at SCC power and state #7 Mt. San Antonio. The Lancers jumped out to a 3-0 and then 4-3 lead over the Mounties before Mt. SAC scored three in the fourth en route to an 8-4 victory.
Rojas (2-for-3) slugged a 2-RBI double and first baseman Monica Gutierrez hit a sacrifice fly in the first. The Mounties countered with Morgan Knubuhler, the 3CFCA Player of the Week, hitting a home run as did Amanda Esquivel.
On March 27, PCC held a 3-1 lead only to see visiting Santa Ana score five runs in the sixth inning for a tough, 6-4, non-conference loss. In the seventh, PCC tried to rally as shortstop Breanna Negrete hit a RBI double but second baseman/pitcher Leiana Rodriguez was thrown out at home plate on the play. With runners on first and second, Santa Ana reliever Ale Guzman got the hot-hitting Rojas to pop for the final out.
Avalos batted 1-for-2 with a double and two runs scored, Garcia was 1-for-1 with a walk and sacrifice bunt, and Rodriguez pitched two shutout relief innings.
The Lancers next host state #11 El Camino on Thursday, April 4 in a 2:30 p.m. first pitch.
