The Natural: Harris Launches 3 Home Runs As Softball Sweeps DH At Moorpark

Jaimie Harris enjoyed a power clinic in belting three home runs, driving in eight RBI, and collecting 14 total bases to lead the Pasadena City College softball team in a doubleheader sweep at Moorpark College, 8-2 and 11-3, on Tuesday.

PCC improved to 4-3 and hold a 3-game winning streak. The Lancers are sixth in the state in team on-base percentage (.465), 10th in batting average (.364) and 10th in slugging percentage (.529). 

The letterman slugger set a PCC record by hitting two roundtrippers in a game for the second time in her career after ripping two in a win over San Bernardino Valley last year. The three homers hit in a doubleheader is also a Lancers first, and the first time a Lancer homered three times over a 2-game period since Holly Riker-Sloan did that in March of 2015. Harris knocked in six RBI in the second contest, the most by a Lancer since Justine Zavala drove in seven in a win over Mt. San Antonio, also in 2015. 

In game 1, after Moorpark took a 1-0 lead on a third-inning, RBI triple by Alexa Paradis, PCC winning pitcher Kiley Kraft helped her own cause on a run-scoring single in the fourth. In the fifth, Danielle Ruiz drew a lead-off walk before Harris blasted a 2-run homer for a 3-1 Lancers lead. Centerfielder Breanna Rodriguez batted 2-for-3 with a 2-RBI single in the seventh.

Kraft (2-1) tossed her second straight complete game, allowing only five hits, but fought through some control issues with three walks two hit-by-pitches. In the 4th, she wiggled out of a bases-loaded jam by striking out Moorpark leadoff hitter Alexa Martinez and then getting Danielle Heidmann to pop out to second. 

Second baseman Gabi Perez batted 2-for-4, scoring two runs, Kraft was 1-for-2 and drew two walks, and designated player Giselle Lopez was 1-for-1 with a double, a walk and two sacrifice bunts. 

In game 2, Ruiz blasted a lead-off home run and Lopez lifted second-inning sacrifice fly for a 2-1 PCC lead. Harris, who lined out to third in her first at bat, crushed a solo shot to lead off the third. In the fourth, the 5-foot-8 sophomore, from Glendale High, ripped a RBI double to make it 4-1. 

The Raiders cut the PCC lead to one, 4-3, scoring two runs in the fifth off PCC winning pitcher Elena Bahnhimtewa. In the sixth, Lopez walked, centerfielder Rodriguez singled, and rightfielder Arlyne Ruiz took a free pass to load the bases. Harris closed out her Judgesque performance with a monster driver over the left field fence for a grand slam. Rodriguez, who was 4-for-4, later hit a 2-RBI single to close out a 7-run frame for PCC.

Bahnimtewa (2-1) scattered eight hits, walked two, hit two batsmen, and struck out four in five innings of the mercy-shortened victory in the circle (Austyn Helmuth pitched a 1-2-3 sixth inning). Leftfielder Olivia Nanez batted 2-for-3 while both Perez and catcher Alyssa Guzman each hit doubles in a 13-hit, Lancers attack. Harris was 3-for-4 with 10 total bases and six ribbies in the contest. 

"Going back to our exhibition games, Jaimie has been consistently driving the ball out of the park," said PCC head coach Monica Tantlinger. "She just carried that power swing into the regular season. It must look like the size of a beach ball for her right now at the plate as even her outs are often hard hit balls. I'm excited for her great progress as a sophomore."

Riker-Sloan and Zavala each tied for the single-season record with 10 home runs each back in 2015 while Riker-Sloan's 11 home runs is a career record ('15-16). Harris now has four this season and nine in her career. She has homered in three consecutive games with PCC earning wins all three. Zavala holds that school record with home runs in four straight games (Jan. 30-31 at the Glendale Tournament). 

Harris, who is currently tied for third in the state in RBI (11) and tied for second in the state in home runs, will have a chance to tie Zavala's mark on Friday, Feb. 10 when the Lancers next play at Santa Ana College. First pitch is 12 noon. 

2-HOME RUN GAMES IN PCC SOFTBALL HISTORY:
Jaimie Harris, Feb. 7, 2023 at Moorpark (6 RBI, grand slam)
Jamie Harris, Mar. 30, 2022 v. San Bernardino Valley at Robinson Park (3 RBI)
Justine Zavala, April 9, 2015 at Mt. San Antonio (7 RBI, grand slam)
Holly Riker-Sloan, March 12, 2015 v. Long Beach at Robinson Park (5 RBI)
Jackie Aguilar, Jan. 31, 2015, v. Gateway (Arizona) at Glendale Sports Complex (4 RBI)