(Walnut) – By John M. Sherrard – For the second game in a row the Mt. SAC offense exploded and defeated Citrus, 10-2, in a nonconference game Thursday afternoon.

The Mounties rang up 15 hits as five batters collected two hits apiece. In the two games against the Owls (10-10-1), Mt. SAC totaled 26 hits and 19 runs.

The Mounties (9-12) will continue with South Coast Conference action on Tuesday at Long Beach City College (14-7, 6-0). Game time is 2:30 pm.

Dallas Reed (Vista Murrieta HS), Johnny Juarez (Glendora HS), Esteban Ortega (Los Altos HS), Antonio Muniz (South Hills HS) and D.J. Daniels, Jr. (Bishop Amat HS) all had two hits for the Mounties.

Freshman pitcher Nicholas Muratalla (San Dimas HS) picked up his second win of the season for the Mounties, allowing only three hits in seven innings and struck out six Citrus batters.

Mt. SAC had two big innings against the Owls, scoring four and five runs in the second and sixth innings respectively.

After Muniz (2 for 3, 2 runs scored) scored on an infield error and Daniels (2 for 3, 2 runs) came home on a wild pitch for the 2-0 lead, sophomore designated hitter Spencer Sundahl (East Lake HS) singled in two runs, scoring Reed and freshman centerfielder Jimmy Frazier (West Covina HS) to lead, 4-0.

After Citrus scored a run in the third inning, Mt. SAC added a run in the fourth inning for the 5-1 lead on a double steal as Juarez and Daniels stole second and home respectively.

The Mounties extended the lead to 10-1 in the sixth with five runs, highlighted by a two-run double to left center by Ortega (2 for 5), scoring sophomore third baseman Matt Majher (Corona HS) and Juarez (2 for 3, run, RBI, 2 BB).

Sophomore pitcher Daniel Diaz (Ayala HS) threw the final two innings, not allowing a run or a hit and struck out two batters.