Softball Ends 10-Year Losing Streak v. Cerritos

The Pasadena City College softball team put an end to a 29-game losing streak that lasted 10 years in its meetings against Cerritos College with a 3-2 win over the Falcons at Robinson Park Tuesday afternoon. The victory was the first v. Cerritos since a 5-3 triumph in Norwalk on March 8, 2007. It had been 11 years since the last time PCC beat the Falcons at home, a 7-6 win in 2006 played at Brookside Park, the team's former home diamond.

"I've been here for four years, so to find out it had been that long since any PCC team beat Cerritos makes this extra sweet," said PCC head coach Monica Tantlinger. "It's kind of ironic that we are now in separate divisions in the South Coast Conference, so the win doesn't count toward our conference record. Two weeks ago, we had them on the ropes and they found a way to beat us (2-1) in the last inning. You just have to keep working hard, and we got rewarded for that today."

The Lancers have won three straight and improved to 6-5 overall. Ranked No. 9 in the 3CFCA State Poll, Cerritos dropped to 8-3. 

An RBI infield single by shortstop Karina Moreno gave PCC a 2-1 lead in the fifth inning. In the sixth, the Lancers added what proved to be the game-winning run when pinch hitter Brittany Gonzales blooped a hit over the third baseman's head that scored Alise Archuleta for a 3-1 advantage.

In the seventh, Cerritos loaded the bases with no outs. But relief pitcher Pica Madrid received sterling defense when centerfielder Angel Urbina completed an 8-5 double play by gunning out Lesley Briseno trying to advance to third. PCC third baseman Brittany Ching made a perfect catch and tag on Urbina's throw. Although a run scored on the play to cut it to 3-2, Ching then fielded a hard hit ball by Kimberly Olivas and made the throw to first for the final out as the Lancers celebrated victory for the first time in a decade v. Cerritos.

Madrid picked up her second save as Angel Wintercorn collected her second victory (2-3). Wintercorn shut down the Falcons bats to just three hits over six innings while striking out three. 

Offensively, PCC stole six bases, two by Archuleta. Archuleta and leftfielder Jazmine Cabrera were each 2-for-3 at the plate while Urbina went 1-for-2 with a walk. 

The Lancers travel to face Glendale College Wednesday, Mar. 1 in a 2 p.m. game at the Glendale Sports Complex.