Riker-Sloan Breaks PCC Single-Season HR Mark
by PCC Sports Information
It took just 21 games for Pasadena City College softball team freshman catcher Holly Riker-Sloan to become the Lancers' single-season home run leader. Riker-Sloan belted two towering home runs over the left-center fence Thursday to give her now eight round-trippers as she helped PCC mercy Long Beach City College, 12-4, in five innings. The South Coast Conference game was played at Robinson Park.
Riker-Sloan's power surge broke a 32-year-old school record of seven HRs in a season set by Cindy Moore in 1983. PCC improved to 12-9 and 3-7 in SCC play. LBCC fell to 5-13 and 3-7. The Lancers snapped a program 16-game losing streak to the Vikings. They last beat LBCC, 6-4, on April 14, 2009 at PCC's former home diamond at Brookside Park.
The Lancers led 3-1 after Riker-Sloan blasted a 2-run shot in the first inning. Long Beach tied it at 3-3, but PCC scored four runs in the fourth to take a 7-3 lead. Riker-Sloan drew a bases-loaded walk and designated player Derek Blow added a 2-run single to right in the rally.
In the fifth, Riker-Sloan launched another drive nearly landing in an identical spot well over the left-center fence. The 2-run bomb was her record No. 8 HR and third in the last two games. A few batters later, shortstop Anais Sustayta lined a gap single for the 12th run that ended the game with two out in the bottom of the fifth.
Riker-Sloan drove in five runs overall and her 31 RBI is now tied for sixth in the state. She is tied for third in home runs in California.
"Holly is a special player with unlimited potential as a power hitter," said PCC head coach Monica Tantlinger. "For her to reach our school record and still have another 16 games left to do more things is remarkable. She has a team-leader mentality and is a pretty strong defensive catcher to go with her bat. As a team, we are hoping to build momentum going into the last half of conference play."
Centerfielder Mariah Quintana batted 3-for-4 with a double and Sustayta was 2-for-4. Third baseman Jackie Aguilar scored three runs (1-for-3) and first baseman Katelyn Thordarson was 1-for-2 with a double.
Winning pitcher Brianna Lopez (3-3) scattered eight hits over five innings, allowing two earned runs.
PCC plays a road non-conference doubleheader Friday, March 13 against Los Angeles Mission College at Sylmar's El Cariso Regional Park. The opener is at 12 noon followed by the second half of the twinbill at 2 p.m.
[Photo--Holly Riker-Sloan rounds third base on her record-setting eighth home run for the Lancers as she is congratulated by PCC head coach Monica Tantlinger on Thursday.
image by Richard Quinton