(Walnut, CA) Mt. SAC sophomore centerfielder Ally Longtree delivered a game-ending, two-run home run to give the Mounties a five-inning, mercy-rule 10-1 victory over Long Beach City College in a South Coast Conference crossover game Thursday (3/21).
Mt. SAC, which recently regained the top-ranking in the state in the latest 3CFCA poll (3/4), improved to 18-2 overall and a perfect 12-0 in conference.
"Ally (Longtree) has been such a great addition to the program," Mt. SAC Softball coach Ruby Rojas said. "She works so hard and it shows."
Longtree (2 for 4, 2 R, 2 RBIs) has recently been moved up to the No. 2 spot in the lineup and has seven hits and seven RBIs in her last four games.
"She has earned it (No. 2 hitter) and puts the ball in play a lot and doesn't strike out," Rojas added. Longtree has only had one strikeout in 49 at bats this season.
In addition to Longtree's game-ending home run, first baseman Vicky Gutierrez (2 for 3, R, 3 RBIs) also hit a two-run, homerun in the third inning to give the Mounties a 6-0 lead.
"We scored in every inning except the first," Longtree said. "After the first inning we adjusted to their pitcher, took in the information and stayed back on the ball."
Left fielder Candace Haliburton (3 for 4, 3 R, 1 SB) led the Mounties with three hits, followed by a pair of hits each by Longtree, Gutierrez and second baseman Gabby Estrada (2 for 3, 1 R, 1 RBI).
"I'm really hard on myself," Haliburton said. "Normally on our days off I just practice and work out.
"We work really hard in practice and are just preparing for the end of the year (playoffs)."
Mt. SAC starting pitcher Briana Wheeler (11-0) was sailing along, retiring the first nine batters before surrendering a leadoff-double in the fourth, which eventually scored. Wheeler finished with 10 strikeouts in the game.
The Mounties finished the scoring with two runs in the fourth on run-scoring singles by Gutierrez and Estrada and the game-ending homerun by Longtree in the fifth.
The Mounties (No. 2 RPI) closed the gap on Cypress, which is the top team in the RPI standings in So Cal, which determines the top four teams who will host playoffs games.
The RPI poll combines records and strength of schedule.
The Mounties will play a doubleheader on Saturday (3/23) against CCCAA State No. 5 Palomar and No. 10 Santiago Canyon. Both games are at Palomar.
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For additional information, please contact the Mt. SAC Sports Information Office at 909.274.4630.