Rio Hondo College freshman Steve Genera launched a three-run, pinch-hit home run in the bottom of the ninth inning to help lead the Roadrunners past the visiting Pasadena City College Lancers by a final score of 12-11 in Tuesday's conference series opener in Whittier.

The three-game South Coast Conference North Division series resumes on Thursday (Apr. 6) at Jackie Robinson Stadium in Pasadena.

Tuesday's contest proved to be a slugfest as both squads combined for 23 runs and 29 hits. Most of the scoring happened late in the game. Trailing 6-2, Rio Hondo tied up the ball game with a two-out, four-run outburst in the bottom of the sixth inning. R.J. Romo lined a two-run single to score Danny Marquez and Gabe Chavez before Alex Rodriguez and Tony Rosario drew bases-loaded walks to force in Romo and Randy Buenrostro with runs.

PCC and Rio Hondo both added a pair of runs each in the seventh but the Lancers rallied for three runs in the top of the eighth to take an 11-8 advantage. Nick Ybarra lifted a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the eighth to drive in Rodriguez to cut the Pasadena lead to 11-9 to set up Genera's heroics in the ninth.

Buenrostro started the inning by reaching base after getting hit by Chris Brown's pitch. A Pasadena error put runners on first and second base before Rodriguez advanced Christian Sandoval and Buenrostro with a sacrifice bunt. Brown struck out Tony Rosario for the second out of the inning but Genera came through with the clutch three-run home run to end the ball game.

Buenrostro and Romo both had two hits and a pair of RBI to lead Rio Hondo at the plate. Buenrostro smacked a two-run home run way back in the first inning to give the Roadrunners an early 2-0 lead.

Brady Carlson allowed six runs (four earned) and 12 hits over six innings in the start. Edmundo Fernandez picked up the win in relief by tossing a perfect ninth inning with one strikeout.

Rio Hondo improved to 16-11 overall and 8-7 in SCC North play while Pasadena dropped to 16-10 and 8-6.