Softball Kraft's A 3-Game Win Streak

In a tough season for the Pasadena City College softball team, the Lancers have improved tremendously in recent weeks, including a current 3-game win streak. On Saturday, PCC enjoyed its best day of the year with late-inning heroics to beat Santa Barbara City College, 2-1, and host Ventura, 6-5, in a 3-way, round-robin tourney.

PCC (9-20 overall) relied on the right arm of Kiley Kraft, who was the winning pitcher in both games to improve to 8-3 overall (3.04 ERA). Kraft pitched a complete-game, 5-hitter with one walk and five strikeouts in the opener. She came into relieve in the fifth inning of the second game and hurled 2.1 innings of 3-hit shutout ball to shut down a hard-hitting Ventura team. 

With two outs in the seventh, the Pirates had the potential tying run on second after back-to-back singles. Kraft kept her composure and then struck out Ventura leadoff hitter Ashley Perez looking to clinch the 1-run victory.

Since Mar. 17, Kraft has been on a roll. In seven appearances, she has allowed just five runs (four earned) in 28.1 innings, allowing 21 hits, just one walk, striking out 21 and posting a microscopic 0.99 ERA. Kraft, who has walked only 13 batters in 83 innings this season, had an amazing streak of 38.2 consecutive innings without a free pass allowed (a span of 11 appearances) end with a sixth-inning leadoff walk v. SBCC. 

In the Ventura win, the Lancers led 4-0 after one inning highlighted by Kimberly Dea's 2-run single. Dea hit a perfect 4-for-4 with a double. Tied 5-5, PCC regained the lead for good in the sixth. Shortstop Gizelle Leyva lined a double, then stole third base. Centerfielder Breanna Rodriguez then hit the game-winning RBI basehit. First baseman Marcella Ordonez was 3-for-3 with a double while both outfielder Jaimie Harris and third baseman Priscilla Ortega batted 2-for-4. 

Against Santa Barbara, PCC (the designated home team) led off the bottom of the seventh on consecutive singles by rightfielder Mika Ibarra and Ordonez. After one out, Harris then proved to be the hero as she ripped a walk-off, RBI double to score Ibarra and close out the exciting win. 

Harris had a monster week as in four games she batted 9-for-15 (.600), scored six runs, hit two home runs, a double, and totaled four RBI. The freshman leads the team in hitting with a .360 average. 

Pasadena hosts El Camino on Tuesday, April 5 in a 2:30 p.m., South Coast Conference game at off-campus Robinson Park.