(Walnut) – By John M. Sherrard – After a tough nonconference schedule, the Mounties began South Coast Conference action Tuesday afternoon with a 5-4 victory over visiting L.A. Harbor College at Mazmanian Field.
Mt. SAC (6-8, 1-0) received its most complete pitching performance of the season as right hander Matt Goytia (Don Lugo HS) went 8 1/3 innings for his first College victory.
The freshman scattered eight hits, struck out three and allowed three runs (2 earned). Goytia, who leads the staff in innings pitched with 27, lowered his ERA to 1.95 on the season.
"It was a nice win and Matt (Goytia) did a great job on the bump," Mt. SAC coach Kevin Smith said.
Three Mountie batters collected multiple hits in the game, including sophomore third baseman Esteban Ortega (Los Altos HS) with three, sophomore designated hitter Johnny Juarez (Glendora HS) and sophomore second basemanDallas Reed (Vista Murrieta HS) with two hits each.
Mt. SAC, which started fast with three runs in the first inning, had 10 hits in the game, including four doubles.
Sophomore first baseman Matt Majher (Corona HS) doubled in the first two runs, scoring Juarez and Reed for the 2-0 lead. Sophomore left fielder Spencer Sundahl (East Lake HS, Chula Vista) brought the third run home with a sacrifice fly to right field, scoring sophomore catcher Kory Brown (Charter Oak HS).
L.A. Harbor (4-9, 0-1) scored a solo run in the fifth inning, to trail 3-1 but the Mounties answered with two more in the seventh.
With Majher and sophomore Nate Alam (El Dorado HS) on first and second, the Harbor pitcher tried a pick off at second but threw the ball into centerfield, advancing them both into scoring position.
Ortega doubled to center field bringing in Majher and Alam for the 5-1 lead.
The Seahawks came back with three more runs in the ninth, but fell a run short, 5-4.
Mt. SAC continues the three-game conference series on Thursday at L.A. Harbor for a 2pm game and on Saturday are back at Mazmanian Field for a noon contest.
For more information contact Mt. SA Sports Information at 909-274-4630.
Follow the team on Twitter @mtsac_athletics