Lopez, Hernandez Roll Hard Sixes, Softball Wins Twinbill

Third baseman Angelica Lopez and leftfielder Briana Hernandez each collected six hits in two games as the Pasadena City College softball team swept a 3-way, non-conference doubleheader Saturday at Orange Coast College. The Lancers whipped host OCC, 9-2, and then defeated LA Mission, 7-2.

Currently No. 14 in the SoCal RPI ratings, PCC extended its win streak to four games and upped its overall record to 12-9. 

Lopez got things rolling for the Lancers in the opener by going a perfect 5-for-5, including belting three doubles and knocking in three RBI. First baseman Amanda Flores and rightfielder Nathalia Velasquez each went 3-for-4 while Hernandez was 2-for-5 with a double. Reserve Amber Ingram added two RBI on a seventh-inning single.  

Britney Lopez pitched 2.1 innings of 2-hit shutout relief to move to 4-4 in the circle. 

In the win over LA Mission, it was Hernandez leading the way as she batted 4-for-5 with a double, three RBI and two stolen bases. Lopez ripped a 2-run single in the fourth that gave PCC a 5-0 lead. The Medrano sisters, catcher Jeneve and shortstop Kaylee (and a double), each went 2-for-3. Flores was 1-for-2 and drew two walks. Lopez reached base eight times in the two games, finishing 6-for-9 with two walks and Hernandez hit 6-for-10. 

Angel Wintercorn (6-3 record) was the beneficiary of the team's offense and pitched a 7-hit, complete game, allowing no walks and striking out seven. She also threw a hitless seventh to finish off the OCC victory. The sophomore Wintercorn leads the team with a 2.58 ERA and is nearly averaging a strikeout per inning at 56 Ks in 59.2 innings this season.

In PCC's win streak, the team scored 39 runs on 49 hits, including reaching double figures in hits in all four games. The Lancers had only reached double digits in hits in five of the team's first 17 games. PCC raised its team average to .308. The squad's best hitters continue to be Velasquez (.417, two home runs, six doubles, 16 RBI), Hernandez (.394, five doubles, 12 RBI, and 10 stolen bases), and Lopez (.386, two home runs, 14 RBI), who has done her damage in just 13 games. Lopez is on a 12-for-19 surge the past six games. 

Another hot slugger in the win streak is Flores, who is 7-for-her-last-11 with four walks and five RBI. She raised her average to .311 and leads the team with seven doubles while knocking in 14.

Coach Monica Tantlinger's Lancers next host El Camino College in a 2:30 p.m. game on Tuesday, Mar. 20 at Robinson Park.