How Sweep it is! Mt. SAC Baseball Defeats Glendale 8-5 in Super Regionals

Photo Credit: Dave Aguilera / DavesSportsImage
Photo Credit: Dave Aguilera / DavesSportsImage

(Walnut, CA) With its second two-game sweep in the CCCAA playoffs, the Mt. SAC Baseball Team advanced to the Sectionals with an 8-5 win over Glendale College in the So Cal Super Regionals Saturday afternoon at Mazmanian Field.

The Mounties swept Santa Barbara City College in round 1 and now Glendale, two games to none, to stretch their post season winning streak to four games.

No. 4 Seed Mt. SAC (33-11) will travel to No. 3 Seed Saddleback College (32-12) Friday May 18.

Mt. SAC last reached the So Cal finals in 2013, which was held at Saddleback.

The two winners in the So Cal finals will advance to the four-team state championship tournament in Fresno May 26-28. El Camino plays Orange Coast in the other So Cal final.

The Mounties, who pounded out 15 hits, were led by a pair of players with three hits each - sophomores Elijah Greene (3 for 5, R, HR, Dbl., RBI) and catcher Chris Sandberg (3 for 5, 2 RBIs).

"(Saturday) was a total team effort and a number of guys stepped up for us," Mt. SAC coach John Knott said. "We are very happy to continue playing and know we need to keep working if we want to reach our ultimate goal."

After Glendale took a 1-0 lead in the second inning, Greene hit a solo home run in the third to tie the game up.

"Elijah set the tone early with a huge home run," Knott added.

The Vaqueros extended the lead to 4-1 after a three-run, third inning.

But as they have been doing in the post season, the Mounties began a comeback scoring twice in the sixth inning to close within a run, 4-3.

With one out, third baseman Michael Sandoval (1 for 4, R, 2 RBIs) doubled, scoring second baseman Ryon Knowles (2 for 4, 2 R, Dbl.) who also doubled to get into scoring position. After the second out, Sandberg singled in Sandoval for the 4-3 score.

"It was my third at bat and with a 3-2 count I battled and hit the hanging curve ball to drive in the third run," said Sandberg, who has committed to Nichols State in Louisiana.

"It gave me a chance to make up for (Friday). They (team) were all riled up and jumping around after my hit."

"It feels great because we have so many key players and parts and have a good chance to go all the way."

Sandberg and Quinn Cotter (2 for 4, R, 2 RBIs) each had RBI singles in the four-run seventh along with Brandon Bradshaw (1 for 4, R, Dbl., Sac) and Manny Galvan scored on a bases-loaded walk and passed ball respectively for the 7-4 lead.

Cotter has seven hits in the four playoff games.

"We also had big at bats from Sandberg and Cotter," Knott said.

The Mounties extended the lead to 8-4 on a single by Cotter, scoring Dino Miranda in the ninth inning.

After reliever Matt Garcia (3-2), pitched a near-perfect (one hit) four innings, Steven Ordorica (2 inn., 4 Ks) closed the door in the final two innings earning his fifth save of the season.

"Matt and Steven were exceptional out of the pen," Knott added. "Glendale was a very tough opponent but our guys fought each inning and had a number of big moments."

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For additional information, please contact the Mt. SAC Sports Information Office at 909.274.4630.