Moreno’s Hot Bat Spurs PCC Softball

There is a new batting leader on the Pasadena City College softball team–freshman shortstop Karina Moreno. As the team’s leadoff hitter, Moreno had a monster week as PCC split four games at the Santa Barbara Bash at the Beach Tournament held March 19-20.

Moreno was 8-for-12 at the tourney and 12-for-17 in six games played last week, including two South Coast Conference contests. Moreno hit .706, added five walks (.772 on-base percentage), scored eight runs, stole five bases and added a triple. Moreno’s .385 batting average leads PCC after 27 games.

On Sunday, PCC downed Orange Coast, 3-1, and defeated Golden West, 6-4, with that being a milestone win No. 50 for Lancers head coach Monica Tantlinger, in her third season at PCC. Pasadena improved to 16-11 overall.

To open the SBCC tourney, PCC suffered a 14-1, 5-inning loss to Saddleback and dropped a 7-3 decision against Fullerton. The left-handed hitting Moreno (righty thrower) had three hits in each of the OCC and Fullerton games.

In the GWC victory, rightfielder Jahaira Badillo batted 2-for-3 and knocked in three runs on a triple in a 6-run, Lancers’ second inning. Moreno also slugged a triple while pitcher Alyssa Madrid won her second game of the day, hurling 5.1 innings and allowing just four hits.

Against OCC, Madrid (now 7-7) fired a complete game, 5-hitter. Moreno was 3-for-3, scored two runs and stole two bases.

Moreno (from Hoover High, Glendale) reached base all four times (3-for-3 with a walk) in PCC’s 5-2, SCC loss to Los Angeles Harbor on March 17 at Robinson Park. Catcher Holly Riker-Sloan belted a 2-run double in the fifth. Centerfielder Cynthia McKeehan added two hits.

PCC, presently in fourth place in the SCC with a 6-4 mark, hosts first-place Mt. San Antonio on Tuesday, March 22 at 2 p.m.