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The PCC baseball team returned home from its road trip after two very discouraging non-conference losses, being routed 12-4 by Rio Hondo College on Feb. 13 and getting a 17-3 thrashing at the hands of LA Pierce College on Feb. 15.

“It’s a nine-inning game and until the last out is made, anything can happen,” said sophomore pitcher Spencer Stute. “I’ve seen some crazy stuff through the years playing this ball game. You have to stay positive even if you’ve got to fake it until you make it. I like to tell the guys if they get down or flat, they have a three-hour obligation to make for games.”

In the early stages in the game against Rio Hondo, the Lancers battled back from a 3-0 deficit with one run in the fourth inning after an RBI single by freshman catcher Corey Richards. They then scored two runs in the sixth inning with RBIs from freshman first baseman Christian Ybarra and freshman shortstop Bobby Fraijo, tying the game at 3-3.

However, Rio Hondo quickly answered in the bottom of the sixth inning with a seven-run burst against PCC starting pitcher Stute and freshman reliever George Gonzalez, distancing themselves from the Lancers for good.

“We battled back into that game, but again we promptly gave up a ton of runs,” said Head Coach Evan O’Meara. “Baseball is played for nine innings for a reason. Just because you’re behind doesn’t mean you’re going to lose the game. There was a mentality of putting their heads down and being sad when there was plenty of time left.”

The Lancers have really struggled on the defense the last three games, amassing a staggering total of 14 errors over that time.

“The errors that were made are only a matter of focus,” said Coach O’Meara. “The desire to want to throw your body in front of a baseball is what’s missing on this ball club right now.”

Despite being completely overwhelmed in a nightmarish game against LA Pierce in which they gave up 18 hits, the Lancers managed to hit their first home run of the season in the sixth inning thanks to freshman catcher Cameron Silva, who drove the ball over the left field fence.

“Most of the at-bats before the third at-bat of the game, I was out in front and pulling balls down the line,” said Silva. “Then I made an effort to stay back on the ball and got a fastball on the inner half of the plate.”

PCC also had a double by Bobby Fraijo and RBI singles by Corey Richards and freshman second baseman Cody Van-Es against LA Pierce.

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