Mt. SAC Softball's Ciara Granado Hits Walk Off, Two-Run Home Run in 8th Inning in CCCAA State Championships to Defeat Palomar, 4-2

Mt. SAC takes care of Palomar in walk-off fashion! - Photo Courtesy of Richard Quinton
Mt. SAC takes care of Palomar in walk-off fashion! - Photo Courtesy of Richard Quinton

(Bakersfield, CA) For the second game in a row, the Mt. SAC Softball Team used the long ball for a victory.  This time, however, it was a walk off, two-run home run by sophomore third baseman Ciara Granado in the bottom of the eighth, for the 4-2 victory over Palomar in the second game of the eight-team tournament at Bakersfield College.

The win now moves the Mounties closer to their fourth championship-game appearance in six years.

"That was a huge win," Mt. SAC softball coach Ruby Rojas said. "The team did an amazing job and "B" (pitcher Briana Wheeler) wanted it." Wheeler pickled up her 24th win of the season.

Mt. SAC will face San Mateo (43-2), a 5-3 win over San Joaquin Delta, at noon Sunday (5/19) with the winner moving into the championship game.

Granado led all players with three hits in the game.

"That was exciting," Granado said. "I knew I could do it and it felt good and we wanted it more than they did."

"I was looking for something inside and got it."

It was a pitchers' dual for the whole game, even though both starters gave up 15 hits combined.

"That was a crazy game," said Wheeler, who had nine strikeouts. "It was exciting and we just kept fighting."

"I felt it (on Saturday) and that home run by "C" (Granado) was a shot over the fence."

Mt. SAC took a 1-0 lead in the first inning as leadoff batter Candace Haliburton homered to center field.

Palomar tied it up at 1-1 in the third, but Mt. SAC retook the lead, 2-1 in the fifth as designated player Caitlyn Felina scored on an error.

However, with two outs in the seventh, Palomar tied the game to send it into extra innings, setting up the dramatic walk-off home run by Granado. 

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For additional information, please contact the Mt. SAC Sports Information Office at 909.274.4630.