(Walnut, CA) The Mounties completed the opening weekend by sweeping their three opponents. In the season opening game on Thursday versus Glendale College at Mazmanian Field, the Mounties received a solid pitching performance from sophomore Ethan Etchebarren. Etchebarren shut out Glendale over his 6 innings of work. Paul Barraza came on for 2 innings of relief and Daniel Perez pitched the last inning to close out the 9-2 victory. Offensively, the Mounties rapped out 15 hits, led by 2 hits apiece from Dustin Frailey, Travis Santiago, Dylan Lowenstein, Kevin Romo, and DJ Larios. Frailey also picked up 3 RBI's and 2 runs scored.
On day two of the opening weekend, the Mounties scored a 6-4 victory over Mt. San Jacinto College. For the second day in a row, the Mounties got a solid pitching performance. Freshman Michael Starns threw 6 quality innings, giving up just 2 earned runs on 3 hits. Starns was followed to the hill by Daniel Perez, Jonathan Chapman, and Esteban Ortega. Ortega recorded the final 3 outs for the Mounties first save of the season. The Mountie offense pounded out 9 hits, led by Johnny Juarez, who had 3 hits. Travis Santiago and Dylan Lowenstein had 2 RBI's each in the victory.
The 3 game opening weekend concluded on Saturday at Mazmanian Field with a 12 noon game against a tough Canyon College team. The Mounties scored first in this game when they got an RBI single from DJ Larios and a bases-loaded walk from Dustin Frailey. Canyon took the lead in the game with 2 runs in the 5th and one in the 6th. The Mounties could only muster 3 hits in innings 3 -8 and trailed 3-2 heading into the 9th. Canyon seemed to have added the necessary insurance runs in the top of the ninth by scoring 2 runs for a 5-2 lead. In the bottom of the ninth, the Mounties led off with a harmless popup and were down to their final 2 outs. Pinch-hitter David Roman then gave the Mounties some life with a base hit to left field. Dustin Frailey followed with a double that scored pinch-runner Aaren Vaughns to cut the lead to 5-3. Pinch-hitter Matt Majher then added an RBI single to right scoring Frailey and the Canyon lead was down to 5-4. Travis Santiago then walked, pushing pinch-runner Alek Jimenez to second base. Edgar Cabral added a clutch single scoring Jimenez to tie the game. With Santiago at second and Cabral at first, the Mounties turned to Esteban Ortega. Ortega hit a chopper toward third that Canyon tried to turn into an inning ending double play. Instead the relay throw to first was in the dirt and skipped away from the first baseman bringing home Santiago with the winning run in this walk-off thriller. Not to be lost in the excitement was a third straight solid pitching performance for the Mounties. Freshman pitcher Tyler McVey, making his first start since having Tommy John surgery, gave the Mounties a solid 5 inning start. Erick Potts threw 3 1/3 innings in long relief, before handing the ball to Jonathan Chapman, who was credited with the win in relief.
The Mounties hope to build on their 3-0 start when they travel to LA Pierce College for a 2 PM game on Thursday, February, 5th.
Contact Mt. SAC Sports Information for additional info at 909-274-4630.