(Walnut, CA) Sophomore shortstop Elijah Zaragoza put the Mt. SAC Baseball Team in the drivers' seat, in the opening game of the CCCAA Super Regionals, with a walk-off double for the, 5-4, win over Glendale College Friday night at Mazmanian Field.
The Friday night victory at Mazmanian Field, in the best-of-three series, puts the Mounties (32-11, SoCal #4 seed) one win away from advancing to next weeks Sectionals.
"I was looking at the pitch up and tried to jump on it right away," Zaragoza said. "I've always heard it said that you can have the worse game leading up to that at bat and then you could win it..."
Zaragoza, who was hitless in the game up to that point, did just that as he hammered the first pitch to centerfield, scoring Quinn Cotter and Derek Zavala for the win.
Game two will be played at Mazmanian Field, tommorow (Saturday) at noon.
Mt. SAC right fielder Brandon Bradshaw opened the 9th inning with a single, followed by a one-out double by Cotter sending Bradshaw home to trail, 4-3.
Cotter also jumped on the first pitch and smacked a sharp double just inside the left field line.
"With the hit I was just trying do something productive and get on base. I wanted to give other people in our lineup a chance to put the game away or get us into extra innings," said Cotter (2 for 4, 2 R, Dbl., RBI), who has had some big hits in the first round playoff games.
Following Cotter, pinch hitter Anthony Walters, was intentionally walked and Zavala pinch ran for him.
Glendale (30-14) scored only in the fourth inning, however four runs came in against starter Mason Corneliussen (8 innings, 3 Ks) for a 4-1 Glendale lead.
The Mounties answered in the fifth with a single run, as designated hitter Nic Sandoval (1 for 3, RBI) singled, scoring Cotter to trail 4-2.
Each team had a man in scoring position in the seventh inning, but failed to produce.
"That was a total team effort right there and the guys never quit," Mt. SAC coach John Knott replied.
"Bradshaw had a great leadoff at bat there with a three and two count and Quinn (Cotter) had a huge RBI double.
"It's exciting. Mason (Corneliussen) did a great job and kept us in there. These guys chipped away, had gritty at bats and made it matter in the end."
Follow Mt. SAC Baseball on twitter @mtsac_baseball
Follow Mt. SAC Athletics on twitter @MtSAC_athletics or Facebook @Mountie.Athletics
For additional information, please contact the Mt. SAC Sports Information Office at 909.274.4630.