Kraft's Pitching, Team Offense Picks Up As Softball Downs Citrus

The Pasadena City College softball team continues to see improvement at the plate and in the pitching circle from Kiley Kraft as the Lancers won for the third time in four games, defeating host Citrus, 9-2, in a non-conference game on Wednesday.

Since March 5, the Lancers (5-14) have collected 44 hits and 25 runs during the 4-game stretch and against Citrus the team recorded a 2022 high in runs. Tied 2-2, PCC exploded for six runs in the top of the sixth inning highlighted by second baseman Montserra Fukumoto's bases-clearing, 3-run triple to right field. Rightfielder Giselle Lopez and leftfielder Jaimie Harris added RBI singles while reserve catcher Sofia Arellano ripped a RBI double to left center. 

Kraft, who is 4-3 in the circle this year, pitched her fifth complete game and second straight victory in limiting Citrus to six hits, walking none and striking out three. 

Overall v. Citrus, Lopez was 2-for-3 with a double, Harris 2-for-4 with two stolen bases, and Fukumoto drove in four RBI (1-for-3, sacrifice fly). Shortstop Priscilla Ortega has been the team's hottest hitter of late as she is 10-for-her-last-15 (.667) to raise her average to .361. 

On Tuesday, El Camino upended the Lancers, 10-3, but PCC outhit the Warriors, 11-7. Ortega collected her third straight 3-hit game and designated player Vianey Orozco also went 3-for-4 with a double. PCC's defense took a siesta in committing an incredible 10 errors, helping El Camino score seven unearned runs. Pasadena made up for the defensive lapses by playing error-less ball in the Citrus victory. 

"A number of players are starting to hit college pitching and it makes a difference," PCC head coach Monica Tantlinger said. "Ortega, Orozco, Lopez, and Fukumoto are making quality at-bats and so are some of our more consistent hitters in Harris and Kimberly Dea. Kiley is a great competitor in the pitching circle and she goes after hitters with excellent control. It's a process to get hitting, pitching and defense all together at the same time, but when it happens, like today v. Citrus, you can see the positive results."

PCC hosts Los Angeles Mission College on Friday, Mar. 11 in a 2:15 p.m. first pitch at off-campus Robinson Park.

Montserra Fukumoto lines a 3-RBI triple on this at-bat