Mt. SAC Softball Sweeps Moorpark, 12-4, 8-0

Shortstop - Ariana Coronado with the diving grab (Photo Courtesy of DavesSportsImage)
Shortstop - Ariana Coronado with the diving grab (Photo Courtesy of DavesSportsImage)

(Walnut, CA) An explosion of hits and runs, early and often, led to a doubleheader sweep for the Mt. SAC Softball team Monday (April 26) over visiting Moorpark College.

The Mounties won both games, 12-4 and 8-0, with the eight-run rule in five innings and evened their record at 3-3. They also banged out 19 hits, which included five doubles.

Five players had two or more hits in the twin bill and three pitchers allowed five total hits in the 10 innings of work, which included a two-hitter from sophomore left-hander Annalisa Panuco.

"The girls are improving," Mt. SAC Softball coach Ruby Rojas said. "It's about making a statement and are we going to impact each other. It was the theme of the day.

"I tell them this is on-the-job learning. I think this is such a great privilege to be out here in kind of a warm-up year. Let's just go out and outwork everybody. We have a great group of girls."


Game 1

In the first game, the Mounties came out with their best inning of the season with five runs in the second inning and finished off the Raiders in five runs in the fifth to end the game.

Centerfielder Emily Barba (2 for 4, 2 R, 3 RBI) and shortstop Ariana Coronado (2 for 3, R, 3 RBI, Dbl.) both led the team with two hits each.

In the five-run second inning, after an RBI walk by right fielder Mikenna Barcelona and a run-scoring single by Barba, Coronado hit a three-run double down the left field line.

In the game, Coronado also made a great defensive play at short in the fourth inning.

"I've been manifesting it," said Coronado of the diving play at short. "Every game I'm ready. If they hit it to my right I'm diving or my left I'm diving.

Coronado, who has a twin sister (Arely) on the team who is currently injured, knows she is still supporting the team. "Even though she is not playing right now, she still uplifts us."

In the top of the third, Moorpark came back with four runs, to trail 5-4.

Left fielder Valerie Alcala added to the Mounties lead with a two-run double to centerfield, scoring pinch-runner Alexis Diaz and Coronado for the 7-4 lead.

They added five more runs in the fifth to end the game, with six pinch hitters all getting into the action and reaching base, which included singles by Diaz, Brianna Mills, Tressa Martinez, and Alyssa Castaneda. In addition, Alyssa Nicklas had a sacrifice fly.

Grace Pieson picked up the win for Mt. SAC.


Game 2

A seven-run first inning is all that Mt. SAC needed in cruising to the win.

Freshman catcher Mireya Amezcua (3 for 3, R, RBI) led the team with three hits, while two other players – Haley Moran (2 for 2, Dbl., R, 2 RBI) and Hannah Mendez ( 2 for 3, 2 R, RBI, SB) – had a pair of hits.

Panuco, who allowed only four base runners in her five innings of work, also struck out nine batters.

"Honestly, (Monday) I felt really great," Panuco said. "On Friday, in the game against Cypress, I didn't do too well. I had the opportunity to come back out here and redeem myself. I was attacking every pitch, every batter and I had great defense behind me.

"After watching them play defense in the first game, I knew we were going to come back and do the same thing in the second game.

"I think this is a practice run-through this year and now that we are playing more games, we are starting to get in the flow."

Rojas echoed what Panuco had said.

"She was a huge improvement from last week (loss to Cypress)," said Rojas of Panuco.

Highlighting the seven-run first inning for the Mounties was a pair of two-run RBI doubles by Castaneda (1 for 3, R, Dbl., 2 RBI) and Moran.

After another doubleheader Tuesday, Mt. SAC will travel to Santa Ana College Friday (April 30). The game time is 12:00 pm.

Follow Mt. SAC Softball on Twitter @mtsac_softball

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