(Walnut, CA) For the twelfth time, in the last 15 years, the Mt. SAC Softball Team advanced to the CCCAA Southern California Super Regionals with a, 7-4, victory over Fullerton College, on Saturday afternoon.
The No. 2 seed Mounties (35-7) will face No. 8 seed College of the Canyons (28-14) on Friday May 11, at home. Game time is 7:00 pm.
The Super Regionals are also a best of three series with the winner advancing to the CCCAA State Championship which the Mounties will host on May 17-20.
"This is exactly what our goal was, to be Regional Champions in the first round and it's on to the next," Mt. SAC coach Ruby Rojas said.
"I think it was a great series for the girls to be able to chip away every single inning and they answered back."
"Our pitching staff (Briana Wheeler, Ericka Tiscareno and Jessica Olvera) did their job and had their highlight moments. We made the right adjustments at the right time."
For the 19th time this season the Mounties' bats exploded for double figures. Leading the way was sophomore shortstop Carissa Felix (3 for 4, 2 R, RBI) with three hits. Third baseman Ciara Granado (2 for 3, R, 2 RBIs, Dbl., Sac Fly), first baseman Michelle Banales (2 for 4, RBI), right fielder Vicky Gutierrez (2 for 3, 2R, RBI, HR) and designated player Adriana Ramirez (2 for 3, 2R, Dbl.) all had two hits each.
Mounties pitcher Briana Wheeler (22-5) picked up her 22nd win of the season, while striking out five batters.
After a Fullerton run in the first inning, the Mounties answered with one in the bottom half of the inning and three in the second for a 4-1 lead.
Gutierrez scored the teams second run of the game, when pinch hitter Jackie Olvera was hit by a pitch with bases loaded.
Granado hit a sacrifice fly to left field, scoring Ramirez for the 3-1 lead and Banales singled in Felix for the third run of the inning.
"We work a lot on clutch hitting and when to hit gap-to-gap or when to hit to the right side," Banales said.
"It's very exciting and I think we're ready and we're going to go make it all the way," added Banales a sophomore transfer from the University of South Dakota last season.
Leading, 5-4, in the sixth inning, the Mounties added two insurance runs for the 7-4 final score.
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For additional information, please contact the Mt. SAC Sports Information Office at 909.274.4630.