Baseball: Rio Hondo pushes SCC-leading Pasadena in narrow 2-1 loss

PASADENA – Rio Hondo College freshman Blake Johnson turned in a solid starting effort, allowing an unearned run and just one hit over five innings. But the Roadrunners were held to four hits and left eight runners on base in a narrow 2-1 South Coast Conference loss at Pasadena City College on Thursday.

After giving up 17 runs to conference-leading Pasadena City (24-7, 13-4 SCC) in the series opener on Tuesday, Rio Hondo was able to reign in the Lancers and allowed just five hits.

Pasadena City struck first as a leadoff error in the second inning eventually resulted in a PCC run.

The Lancers held the slim lead all the way until the sixth. Gabriel Rico smacked a leadoff single and moved to second on a passed ball. He then came in to score to tie up the game thanks to a pair of Pasadena throwing errors.

But PCC responded in the seventh with the game-winning run. An error after a bunt single allowed another unearned run to score.

For Rio Hondo on offense, Diego Flores (1 for 2, walk) and Josep Angulo (1 for 3, walk) both reached base twice.

Joseph Russo took the loss for Rio Hondo after allowing an unearned run and four hits over two innings. Camden Cooper closed out the game with a perfect eighth inning.

The Roadrunners dropped to 16-15 overall and 6-11 in South Coast Conference play. PCC and Rio Hondo wrap up the three-game conference series on Saturday (Apr. 9) at noon back in Whittier.