Walk-Off Win In 10th Gives Baseball Series Edge Over Compton

PCC baseball wins another SCC series (photo by Richard Quinton).
PCC baseball wins another SCC series (photo by Richard Quinton).

Tyler Garcia proved clutch once again on Saturday as he hit a walk-off, RBI single in the 10th inning to lift the Pasadena City College baseball team over visiting Compton, 4-3. The Lancers win the South Coast Conference series with two victories although the finale won't be played until Monday, March 24 at Compton due to the wet weather.

Garcia earlier hit his team-leading sixth home run, a 2-run shot over the left-center field fence at Brookside Park in the sixth inning. Compton scored two runs in the seventh as the game went into extra innings.

In the 10th, singles by Bryan Richman and Joaquin Salcedo a hit-by-pitch to Isaac Ton loaded the bases. With two outs, Garcia laced his winning hit, scoring Salcedo. Both Roman and Richman joined Garcia (plus a stolen base) in collecting two hits. 

Closer Matt Garcia hurled three 1-hit shutout innings for his second win while PCC received yet another solid start by ace Connor Campbell, who pitched six innings, allowing four hits, four walks, striking out six and allowing one run. 

Salcedo, the team's freshman starting catcher, is third in overall batting in the SCC at a .451 average. Garcia and Salcedo (four home runs) are Nos. 1 and 2 in conference slugging at .860 and .817, respectively. Garcia is third in on-base percentage (.533), Richman fifth (.515) and Salcedo sixth (.512).

The Lancers (12-7 overall) are in fourth place in the South Coast with a 7-4 record. 

This week, PCC takes a bye from conference play and will host state #10-ranked Golden West on Wednesday, March 19 in a 2 p.m. game at Jackie Robinson Field. The Lancers then host #5 Riverside City on Friday, March 21 at 1 p.m.