(Pasadena, CA) After splitting a double header with CCCAA State No. 2 ranked Cypress College last Saturday, the Mt. Softball Team exploded for 34 runs in three consecutive wins (this week). The third victim was rival Pasadena City College, who that Mounties defeated, 10-1, on Thursday for its third consecutive South Coast Conference (SCC) North Division Championship.
"We accomplished our first goal, which was to win conference," Mt. SAC Head Coach Ruby Rojas replied. "Now onto the next goal!"
The win improves the Mounties to 30-6 overall and 9-2 in conference.
The Mounties defeated Rio Hondo, 14-0, on Tuesday and No. 10 El Camino on Wednesday, 10-0. Both games ended after five innings due to the 8-run mercy rule.
Mt. SAC pounded out 13 hits, with six players collecting two hits each in the game and pitcher Briana Wheeler (16-4) went the distance for the fifteenth time this season.
Wheeler scattered four hits and struck out nine PCC batters.
The Mounties took a quick, 4-0, lead in the first inning, highlighted by a two-run single by left fielder Candace Haliburton (2 for 3, R, 2 RBIs, Sac).
In the inning, Ciara Granado (2 for 4, R, RBI) and Adriana Ramirez (2 for 3, 2 RBIs, Dbl.) singled and doubled in runs respectively for the, 4-0, lead.
The Mounties added two more runs in the third and finished with a four-spot in the seventh.
Third baseman Vicky Gutierrez (2 for 3, 3 R, HR, 3 RBIs, BB) put an exclamation point on the game and the conference-clinching win with a three-run home run in the last inning.
Catcher Michelle Santiago (2 for 4, 2 R, Dbl.) and second baseman Amanda Esquivel (2 for 4, RBI, Dbl.) both collected two hits in the game.
The Mounties will play their seventh game, in eight days, as they host a double header on Saturday. The first game is against State No. 3-ranked Bakersfield (30-8) at 1:30 pm with game two following at 4:00 pm vs. So Cal No. 8-ranked Antelope Valley (28-9).
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For additional information, please contact the Mt. SAC Sports Information Office at 909.274.4630.