(Walnut, CA) A two-run ninth inning rally lifted host Mt. San Antonio College to a 6-5 South Coast Conference win over conference leader El Camino College (26-12, 16-6) on Tuesday, April 25. The loss cuts the Warriors' SCC lead to one game ahead of Pasadena City College (23-15, 15-7) with two games to play in the regular season.
With the score tied 1-1 through three innings, El Camino posted four runs in the top of the fourth to take a 5-1 lead. The Mounties (19-19, 10-12) chipped away at the lead with two runs in the fifth and one in the sixth to pull within one, 5-4.
Elijah Pelayo (2-3, R) started the bottom of the ninth inning off with a triple for Mt. SAC then scored the tying run on a single by Braydyn France (2-4, R, 2 RBI). With the bases loaded later in the inning, France scored the winning run from third on a sacrifice fly by Joey Rossetti (1-4, 2 R, RBI).
Other top offensive performances came from Blake Hagerty (1-2, R, 2 RBI, HR) and CJ Ontiveros (1-3, 2B).
Ray Northey (5-4) picked up the win for the Mounties, pitching one inning of relief. Starter Michael Flores threw five innings, allowed five runs (three earned), and struck out seven.
Game 2 of the series will take place in Torrance on Thursday, April 27, at 2:30 p.m., and Game 3 in Walnut on Friday, April 28, at 2:30 p.m.
