Holguin’s Pitching, Defense Lead to PCC Baseball Win at West LA

Starter pitcher Isaac Holguin hurled five innings of 1-hit ball and the Pasadena City College infield turned four double plays as the Lancers got past host West Los Angeles College, 5-3, Saturday in a non-conference game. PCC improved its overall record to 3-2.

Holguin (1-0) faced only one batter over the minimum as he carried a no hitter into the fifth. With one out, WLAC third baseman Andrew Baneulos singled to break up the no-no. Holguin then induced the next hitter Michael Strosnider to hit into an inning-ending, 4-6-3 double play. It was the third twin killing of the four turned by PCC’s middle infielders Robert Mier, second baseman, and Thomas Castro, the shortstop.

After designated hitter John Sevilla hit a RBI groundout to give PCC a 1-0 lead in the first inning, leftfielder Joe Quire delivered a 2-run single to right that helped increase the Lancers’ lead to 4-0. Quire finished 2-for-4 while third baseman David Dominguez was 2-for-3 with a walk.

In the eighth, reserve Joe Willard put down a drag bunt single that brought in an insurance run and gave PCC a 5-0 advantage. West LA (2-4) rallied with three runs in the bottom of the frame, two on bases-loaded walks surrendered by PCC relievers Nick Esparza and Jason Marquez.

Marquez, a sophomore, got out of a jam with runners on second and third by striking out Mateus Vakuda. In the ninth, Marquez completed the save as Mier and Castro fittingly turned another 4-6-3 double play for the game’s final outs.

Coach Pat McGee’s Lancers host Los Angeles Valley College on Friday, Feb. 13 in a 2 p.m. opening pitch at Brookside Park’s Jackie Robinson Memorial Field.