(Norwalk, CA) In a wild, high-scoring game, the Mt. SAC Softball team held off Cerritos College 9-8 and won a South Coast Conference crossover game Thursday afternoon.
The Mounties led 9-2 in the sixth inning but the Falcons connected with a grand slam and scored six runs in the inning but came up short.
Three Mt. SAC players had two hits in the game – Ciara Granado (2-3, 2 R, 2 RBIs, HR, 2 SB), Candace Haliburton (2-4, 2 R, 3 SB) and Amanda Esquivel (2-3, R, SB).
The Mounties took an early lead on a solo homer by Granado, followed by an error in centerfield scoring Haliburton. Adriana Ramirez scored on a sacrifice fly by third baseman Vicky Gutierrez to make it 3-0 after the top of the 1st inning.
After Cerritos scored twice in the bottom half of the first to trail 3-2, Mt. SAC extended the lead to 9-2 in the fourth with six runs.
Highlighting the inning was a solo home run by Michelle Banales (1-3, R, RBI) and a run-scoring double by Carissa Felix (1-3, RBI), scoring Jayda Reyes.
Granado followed with a single, scoring Nikki Soto. Granado stole second and went to third on a single by Haliburton.
The Mounties then pulled off a double steal with Haliburton going to second and Granado coming home for the 7-2 lead.
Left fielder Caitlyn Felina finished the six-run inning with a two-run single to right scoring Esquivel and Haliburton.
Pitcher Briana Wheeler picked up her fourth win of the season against no losses for the Mounties, going six innings and striking out six Falcon batters.
The Mounties next host El Camino on Tuesday, February 13 at 3:00 p.m.
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For additional information, please contact the Mt. SAC Sports Information Office at 909.274.4630.