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Pasadena’s prolonged losing streak in the South Coast Conference continued last week as they were swept by El Camino-Compton Center in three games. They lost 11-3 in Compton on April 16, 8-3 playing host at Jackie Robinson Memorial Field on April 18 and were then shut out 8-0 in Compton on April 20.

In the first game, the Lancers gave up three runs in the bottom of the first inning to fall into an early hole. However, PCC got on the scoreboard in the fourth inning when sophomore first baseman David Halstead hit a homerun to right field, which was his second homerun of the season. Halstead had two of the Lancers four hits on the day, as he also smacked a triple off the center field wall.

“The triple was probably the best ball I’ve hit all year,” said Halstead. “But on the homerun the wind helped carry the ball over the right field fence.”

The second game of the series, despite the 8-3 loss, marked the first time since March 16 that the Lancers had more than 10 hits in a game, with RBI’s from freshman catcher Corey Richards and sophomore shortstop Josh Clark. Standouts who had multiple hits on the day were freshman left fielder Kori Grant, sophomore second baseman Tyler Dominguez and freshman right fielder Phillip Perez.

On April 18, sophomore starting pitcher Evan Stransky had his toughest outing of the season, getting pulled after 3 1/3 innings of work. Stransky, who has been very consistent on the mound this season despite not getting much run support from his offense, was roughed up for seven runs while walking four batters. He was quite critical of his most recent performance.

“That was my worst outing of the season,” said Stransky. “I just didn’t feel well out there and the speed of my pitches has dropped recently.”

The Lancers struggled mightily on defense during the series as well, tallying 11 errors in three games against ECCC.

“These errors that we’re making are only a matter of focus,” said Head Coach Evan O’Meara.

With their final three games of the season coming up, the Lancers hope to end their brutal season on a positive note when they play Long Beach City College this week.

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