(Irvine) By John M. Sherrard – Trailing by two runs late in the game, Mt. SAC scored single runs in the ninth and tenth innings, including a solo home run by sophomore third baseman Esteban Ortega (Los Altos HS) to stop a three-game losing streak and defeat host Irvine Valley College Saturday afternoon.

Freshman pitcher Nicholas Muratalla (San Dimas) pitched the final two innings to pick up his first college win.

Three Mt. SAC (3-4) players, for the first time this season, had three hits apiece, including sophomore catcher Kory Brown (Charter Oak HS), sophomore first baseman Matt Majher (Corona) and Ortega. Majher was 3 for 4, with a run and an RBI.

After Irvine Valley (3-3) took a 7-6 lead in the eighth inning, Brown (3 for 5) singled to right, scoring sophomore center fielder Nate Alam (El Dorado), who walked. One inning later Ortega hit a no-doubter to left center for the 8-7 lead and eventual victory.

Earlier in the game, the Mounties took a 4-0 lead in the fourth inning after the first four batters all singled and later scored.

Highlighting the inning was a two-run double to left center by Ortega, who was 3 for 5 in the game.

Irvine Valley chipped away at the Mountie lead, tying the game at 4-4 in the sixth.

Mt. SAC took a two-run lead, 6-4, on a two-out double to right in the seventh by Brown, scoring Alam (2 runs, walk) and sophomore right fielder Anthony Seminaris (Ayala).

However, Irvine Valley came back again to tie the game with two runs in the bottom half of the inning to tie it at, 6-6, and taking the lead, 7-6, with a run in the eighth.

The Mounties will host two games this week with a game Tuesday against Riverside City College and on Thursday, hosting Mt. San Jacinto.