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Maddy Gianoli slides into second for a stolen base ahead of the throw during PCC’s 3-1 loss v. Moorpark Monday at Robinson Park, image by Richard Quinton.
The Pasadena City College softball team’s leadoff hitter Maddy Gianoli reached on a hit-by-pitch, stole second, and ultimately scored on a sacrifice fly by Kayla Moore. As easy as it was for PCC to score that first-inning run, it became an impossible task the rest of the game for the Lancers’ offense against Moorpark pitcher Marti Lewis. The Raiders’ hurler tossed a complete-game, no-hitter and slugged a solo home run over the centerfield fence in the sixth inning to hand PCC a 3-1, non-conference loss at Robinson Park.
Pasadena (8-17) has not reached base via a base hit since the second inning of its previous game, a 13-0 loss against Los Angeles Harbor College on Mar. 16. Since third baseman Ilene Suleymanyan’s single through the middle to lead off the second inning of that home game, the Lancers have now gone 35 consecutive at bats without a hit. The streak is at 11 consecutive innings.
The hardest hit ball by PCC came in the first inning when centerfielder Brittany Skoien hit a hard comebacker to Lewis, who made the play easily to throw Skoien out at first. The Lancers reached base only two other times, a walk in the fifth inning to Alyssa Gonzalez and when Moore took first on a fielding error by Moorpark’s third baseman in the seventh. Nikki Salas came up as the potential tying run, but struck out looking to complete the no-no by Lewis.
PCC’s offensive woes overshadowed an effective pitching effort by Lancers’ starter Bronwyn Stewart (six innings, eight hits, three runs). Moore, the team’s ace who has not pitched in a few weeks due to a hip injury, worked her way out a second and third jam to pitch a scoreless seventh inning in relief.
“If there was something encouraging for us, it’s that we played good defense (one error) and Kayla appears ready to pitch again,” said PCC Head Coach Brittany Williams. “Obviously, we have to start hitting. We’re in a slump at the plate.”
After 25 games, Moore, a sophomore, leads the team in hitting with a .448 average while Suleymanyan, also a letterman, tops the Lancers in RBI with 18 to go with a .338 average. Moore’s 2.85 ERA and four pitching wins also highlights the team’s staff.
PCC returns to South Coast Conference play at first-place Mt. San Antonio on Tuesday, Mar. 20 in a 5 p.m. first pitch.
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