Early Lead v. State #1 El Camino, But Softball Takes SCC Defeat

For a few innings, the Pasadena City College softball team showed it could hang with current state #1-ranked El Camino, taking a 2-0 lead on the Warriors going into the third inning. The Lancers though couldn't sustain the early momentum and dropped a 10-2 decision on Thursday afternoon.

PCC (0-6 overall, 0-2 in South Coast Conference play ) jumped ahead 1-0 in the second inning after sophomore leftfielder Lucero Alcaraz walked, advanced on a wild pitch then took off from second on a sacrifice bunt by third baseman Alexis Garcia, scoring on a throwing error.

In the third, the Lancers made it 2-0 as centerfielder Marissa Moreno reached on an infield single to third, second baseman Natalie Huelster ripped a liner off the glove of the first baseman for another hit, and letterman first baseman Adriana Valdez lined a RBI single up the middle. Huelster was thrown out at home on a bang-bang throw by El Camino centerfielder Jackie Ordonez that prevented a third run.

PCC starting pitcher Mariah Vazquez kept the Warriors' hard-hitting bats at bay with two shutout innings, helped by a diving catch by rightfielder Jade Lopez in the first inning. She was removed during the third inning after two hits and two walks and El Camino, undefeated at 8-0 and 3-0 in SCC action, responded with six runs to change the game's direction.

Valdez is hitting .286 with three RBI as the lefty is pacing a struggling Lancers offense. 

The Lancers have battled adversity as they will have to play on the road the entire 2025 season because of unsafe playing conditions at long-time home diamond at Robinson Park in the City of Pasadena. 

PCC looks for its first victory when it plays at East Los Angeles on Friday (Feb. 21) in a 1 p.m. conference contest.