Another Rally, Double-Digit Effort For The Pasadena City College Baseball Team

The Pasadena City College baseball team and the phrase “a sure thing” don’t often find ways into the same sentence. But in 2016, the Lancers know for sure if they score 10 runs, they’re going to win. PCC rallied for seven runs in the bottom of the eighth inning Thursday and beat Los Angeles Harbor, 10-5, at Brookside Park’s Jackie Robinson Memorial Field. Pasadena is now 6-0 in games in which it scores in double figures.

Pasadena is 8-15 overall and 2-6 in South Coast Conference play while Harbor dropped to 8-15 and 4-4.

The Lancers nearly wasted a gutsy performance by starting pitcher Anthony Mizrahi, who hurled 7.1 innings but gave up only two earned runs as PCC trailed 5-3 going into bottom of the eighth. Mizrahi, a sophomore righthander who has been thrust into the starting rotation from the closer role because of his reliablity, held a 3-1 lead through six innings. Five PCC errors though helped end his bid for a mound win.

PCC battled back as shortstop Alex Briggs lined a 2-run single for a 6-5 lead, the big hit in a rally that saw the Lancers total six hits and send 12 batters to the plate. Leftfielder Brandon Benson had two hits in the inning while catcher Justin Cage hit a double and drew a walk. Harbor twice made errors on fielder’s choice throws to third base off PCC bunts that helped the inning along. Reserve centerfielder Fidel Hernandez and pinch runner Khari Vaughn successfully pulled off a double steal that scored Hernandez.

Designated hitter Jeremy Conant continued his fine season with three hits and three RBI while Briggs (two RBI) and rightfielder Anthony Rabito also had three hits a piece. PCC grinded out 17 hits in all, two each by Benson, Cage and first baseman Paul Christian.

Reliever Chris Brown hurled 1.2 innings of shutout ball to pick up his team-leading third win.

“Our at bats in the eighth reminded us that if we show patience, look for the right pitches in the right situations, and even play some small ball, that we can put up runs anytime we want,” said PCC head coach Pat McGee. “We didn’t help Anthony defensively, but we fortunately didn’t lie down once Harbor took the lead. We want to carry this confidence on offense into the rest of SCC play.”

On Tuesday in the series opener, it was Harbor that rallied with six runs in the eighth to erase a 6-5 Lancers lead and give the Seahawks a 12-6 win. Rabito batted 3-for-5 with two doubles and Benson was 2-for-3 with a triple. Conant, who is batting a team-best .388, slugged his third home run, a solo shot in the sixth.

PCC plays at Harbor on Saturday, April 2 to conclude the teams’ 3-game series. First pitch is 12 noon.