By John M. Sherrard
(Walnut, CA) With the second-season right around the corner, the Mt. SAC Softball team completed the regular season with a 6-0 shutout win over College of the Canyons on sophomore night in a non-conference game Wednesday.
The Mounties, before a large home crowd, upped their record to 35-3 and are expected to gain a No. 2 Seed in the upcoming CCCAA Southern California playoffs beginning next week.
Brackets will be announced on the Mt. SAC Athletic web site this weekend.
"The girls did an amazing job earning the home-field advantage and now the party can get started," Mt. SAC Softball coach Ruby Rojas said.
"This is what we've been working for and they've done an amazing job and now it's one pitch at a time."
Finishing the season with their 14th shutout of the season, the CCCAA State No. 3-ranked Mounties were led by pitcher Racqual Espinoza's 14th win of the season.
The sophomore pitched five innings, allowing only four hits while striking out four.
"It's honestly incredible to be a part of such a great program," Espinoza said. "It's amazing to be part of a team like this.
"The team, with all of the sophomores (13) came out strong way back in the fall."
Pitching the final two innings was the other half of the pitching tandem was sophomore Tiffany Kennedy-Cummings.
"We complement each other 100%," Espinoza said of Kennedy-Cummings. "She's there for me when I'm struggling."
Mt. SAC again was in double figures in the hit column (11) with four players adding two hits apiece.
Sophomore shortstop Kayla Sok (2 for 2, 2 runs, RBI) and Espinoza (2-2) were perfect at the plate, while sophomores Toni Mendoza (2-3, RBI) and Aleyah Wilbon (2-3, run, RBI) also added a pair of hits.
Sophomore catcher Taylor Jaurique added a double and two RBIs.
The Mounties scored a single run in the first inning on a sacrifice fly by Juarique, scoring Sok.
They added five more runs in the fifth inning for the 6-0 lead and Kennedy-Cummings closed the door the final two innings.j
"We've grown so much this past year and I really do consider them as sisters," said sophomore third baseman Kristen Williams, who played her first year of college softball at Idaho State and red-shirted last season.
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For additional information, please contact the Mt. SAC Sports Information Office at 909.274.4630.