Valencia, Encheff Shut Down Merced Bats In Baseball Home Win

Southpaw starter Alex Valencia and righty reliever Landon Encheff combined to allow just eight hits as the Pasadena City College baseball team evened its record to 4-4 with a 4-2 victory over Merced at the Lancers off-campus diamond at Brookside Park's Jackie Robinson Field on Saturday. 

Valencia allowed two runs on six hits and one walk over six innings to improve his mound record to 2-1, then Encheff did the rest as he fired three shutout frames, giving up just two hits, no walks and striking out two. 

The Lancers trailed 1-0 in the first, but in the bottom of the inning took a 2-1 lead on as shortstop leadoff hitter Omar Cisneros singled, stole second, advanced to third on a catcher's throwing error, then scored on a RBI groundout by rightfielder Luke Bauer. Catcher Isaac Ton was hit by a pitch and eventually was plated on first baseman Joaquin Salcedo's single to center.

PCC took advantage of Merced pitching's wildness in the fourth to score two more insurance runs. Salcedo walked, designated hitter Kyle Ly was plunked (HBP), and Cisneros drew a 2-out, base on balls to load the bases. Centerfielder Xiovany Ochoa promptly delivered with a 2-RBI hit up the middle. 

Cisneros had a perfect day at the plate, 3-for-3 and his walk and Salcedo was 2-for-3. Bauer had his 7-game hitting streak to start his collegiate career end in going 0-for-4. The freshman's .484 batting average and .568 on-base percentage lead the squad. 

On Feb. 5, PCC let one slip away against state #8-ranked Santa Ana as the Dons rallied for five runs in the ninth for a 10-6 win at Brookside. The Lancers led at one point 6-1 after three innings, but Santa Ana got the big blow in the ninth on a grand slam by Aiden Marquez to left center off PCC's third pitcher of the day AJ Flores. 

Lancers third baseman Chris Torres batted 3-for-5 with two RBI, Ochoa was 2-for-3, Ton, playing second base, was 2-for-4, and leftfielder Jacob Escamilla knocked in three runs, two on a double down the LF line in a 4-run, PCC first inning. Starting pitcher Jonathan Bracamonte pitched six strong innings (seven hits, four runs), getting a no decision after leaving in the seventh with Pasadena up 6-3. 

PCC closes a 7-game homestand on Tuesday, Feb. 10 in a non-conference game v. West LA. First pitch is 2 p.m.