(Walnut, CA) The 2-hit game pitched by Briana Wheeler and solo home run by right fielder Jessika Trujillo, lifted the Mt. SAC Softball Team to a 1-0, South Coast Conference, victory over Pasadena City College on Thursday (4/18).
The win improves Mt. SAC's overall record to 32-4 and a perfect 19-0 in conference.
A pitchers' duel between Wheeler (19-1, 12-0) and Pasadena's Vivian Little (7-2, 5-2) combined for only four hits in the first 3 ½ innings, before the leadoff homerun by Trujillo, in the bottom of the fourth inning, broke the scoreless game.
"As I was running around the bases, I was so excited and knew we were going to start hitting more," Trujillo said. "This has been the best experience, coming here (Mt. SAC). Everyone works so hard here and "B" (Wheeler) is amazing out there. When I'm out there, I'm just so confident of her getting the win."
Shortstop Quinn De Avila and second baseman Gabby Estrada followed with singles, but were stranded.
Wheeler, who fanned 11 in seven innings, stranded a Lancer on third in the first inning and that's the closest they would come to scoring. From there, the University of Hawaii (Hilo) bound sophomore, fanned six of the next seven batters before allowing a third-inning single.
"My changeup was kind of shaky (Thursday), but I threw enough to still throw them off," Wheeler said. "Switching changeups from earlier in the season to now, I think it's dialed in."
The Mounties have scored only three runs in the last two games, but have two wins with the pitching and defense behind them.
They came away with a, 2-0, win over Rio Hondo on Tuesday.
In the win over PCC, outfielder Candace Haliburton led the Mounties with a single, double and a stolen base.
"It's a win," Mt. SAC Head Coach Ruby Rojas said. "Offensively, I thought we did fine and squared up some balls.
"'B' has definitely carried this team and she wants to dominate and be in control and that's what makes her such a dominate pitcher."
The Mounties, who are winding down with their last four games of the regular season, will host Antelope Valley College (30-7) in a double header on Saturday (4/20). Game times are 2:30 pm and 5:00 pm.
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For additional information, please contact the Mt. SAC Sports Information Office at 909.274.4630.