Power Show Punctuates Baseball's Series Sweep Of Harbor; Garcia Homers In 4th Straight

The Pasadena City College baseball team continued an exhibition in slugging on Saturday as the Lancers bombed four home runs for the second consecutive game, two by the red-hot Tyler Garcia, in a 13-6 win at LA Harbor. PCC closed out the 3-game series sweep over the Seahawks.

Garcia, a sophomore centerfielder, is on an epic run that has rarely been rivaled in PCC history. He has now hit home runs in four consecutive games and in his last six games, he is 9-for-16 with five homers, two doubles, four walks, three hit-by-pitches, and 12 RBI. 

He is the state leader in slugging percentage at 1.029, third in on-base percentage at .608, and his .457 batting average is fourth in the South Coast Conference (20th in California). 

PCC upped its overall record to 10-4 and now 5-1 in SCC play, third in the conference behind Cerritos and Mt. San Antonio, both 3-0 and each taking their bye weeks in the opening two weeks of the 24-game South Coast schedule. 

In the finale, Garcia launched a home run to left-center in the second inning, then hit a towering bomb, again over the left-center fence for a 3-run shot that gave the team breathing room in the ninth inning. Earlier, lefty-hitting shortstop Bryan Richman slugged his first PCC home run in two seasons over the right field fence in the sixth and frosh catcher Joaquin Salcedo hammered his fourth home run of the season, a solo shot in the fifth to left center. 

PCC totaled 20 hits, including first baseman Adrian Roman going 4-for-6 (one double), Salcedo 3-for-5 (also a double), third baseman Devin Munoz 3-for-6, redshirt freshman outfielder Isaac Ton 3-for-5 with two RBI. All nine starters hit safely.

In the three wins v. Harbor, the Lancers totaled 55 runs, 64 hits, nine home runs, 10 doubles, three triples, 10 walks and six hit batsmen (five in Saturday's contest). PCC's team batting average of .367 is second in the state as is the squad's .461 OBP. The team's .531 slugging percentage is fourth in California. 

"Our offense is just pounding the ball, led by Tyler and Joaquin," said PCC head coach Pat McGee. "Garcia has come a long way since his freshman season, but his ability to drive the ball has always been part of his arsenal. We've only played 14 games, yet we have eight different players with 10 or more RBI and another who is two away."

On the mound, Connor Campbell moved to 4-1 by hurling six innings, allowed four earned runs, one walk and striking out five. Matt Garcia picked up his second save and pitched 1.2 innings of scoreless relief. 

PCC will be tested next week in facing state #4-ranked Cerritos in a 3-game series, starting Tuesday, Mar. 4 in a 2 p.m. SCC contest. 

Bryan Richman rounds the bases after his home run at Harbor on Saturday