Baseball Struggling At Home Field

During PCC's run to a co-South Coast Conference North Division baseball title in 2019, the Lancers experienced a surprising 4-game home losing streak. The team finished 25-15 overall and 13-6 in games at its off-campus diamond--Brookside Park's Jackie Robinson Memorial Field.

So far in 2020, home has hardly been sweet after a second straight loss, 12-7 v. Pierce College on Thursday. Pasadena (1-2 overall) dropped their home opener against San Diego Mesa, 8-6, on Jan. 25. 

Against Pierce, Lancers head coach Pat McGee got a workout in trips to the mound as he used seven pitchers. The Brahmas reached base 23 times safely on 14 hits, five walks and four hit by pitches. The Lancers chased Pierce the entire contest, trailing 5-1, cutting it to 5-4 and then 8-7 by the end of the eighth. But Pierce tacked on four more insurance runs in the ninth to close out its win.

PCC collected just seven hits but was helped by 14 free passes (including 11 walks). However, the Lancers left 13 runners on base. In the seventh inning, PCC loaded the bases with no one out, but a strikeout and then a 4-6-3 double play off the bat of 2019 All-American centerfielder Gabe Arellano left the Lancers scoreless in the frame. At the time, the Lancers trailed 6-4. 

Freshman designated hitter Thomas Kolling continues to be the team's hottest hitter. Batting .385, Kolling lined a 2-RBI double in the third inning. The lefty-batting Kolling launched a solo home run over the right-center field fence in the eighth inning of the Mesa loss. Also v. Pierce, first baseman Dino Miranda went 2-for-3 with a double and second baseman Erik Lewis was 2-for-4.

In the Mesa defeat, lefty reliever Chase Pedersen hurled four shutout innings (and four strikeouts) before being touched for two runs in the seventh. PCC rallied from 5-0 down to tie it at 5-5 after six innings, but the Olympians scored three runs in the seventh to take control. 

One alarming statistic in the two home losses is that Pierce and Mesa outhit the Lancers, 28-13. PCC's offense is suppose to be the team's strength, but the team has done its job putting runs across the plate overall with 13 in the two games. Opponents are batting .345 and averaged 9.3 runs in three games v. the Lancers pitching staff.

Today (Friday, Jan. 31), the Lancers take on North Region power San Joaquin Delta in a 2 p.m. game at JR Field.