(Walnut, CA) The Mt. SAC Softball team is once again headed to the CCCAA Southern California Super Regionals, having accomplished this feat for the 15th time in the last 17 years. The team managed to sweep visiting San Diego Mesa in a doubleheader on Saturday (May 6), winning both games 3-0 and 7-3, respectively. With these victories, the No. 2 Seed Mounties extended their winning streak to an impressive 20 games and improved their overall record to 37-5.
Looking ahead, the Mounties will be hosting the upcoming Super Regional best-of-three series against the No. 7 Seed Bakersfield (28-14), who recently defeated No. 10 Seed Long Beach City College. These games will take place on Friday and Saturday (May 12, 13) with a berth to the state championships on the line. If the Mounties succeed, they will also have the honor of hosting the eight-team state tournament, which is scheduled to take place May 18-21.
During the two-game sweep against San Diego Mesa, it was sophomores Ashley Diaz and Mia Mendoza who led the way for the Mounties. Diaz went 3 for 6, hitting a home run and picking up an RBI, while Mendoza finished with 3 for 7 and an impressive 3 RBIs.
Game 1
Mt. SAC 3, SD Mesa 0
Freshman Aleyna Urbina was the star of the game, pitching a complete game and allowing only three hits and three base runners while striking out two batters. She improved her impressive record to 18-2.
The game was tied 0-0 in the fifth inning when Mt. SAC took the lead with two outs. Sophomore catcher Celeste Cortez, who finished the game with a hit, a walk, and a run, hit a double to left field and came home on another double by sophomore shortstop Katelyn Olson. The lead was extended further by a run-scoring single from Mia Mendoza, who went 1 for 3 in the game.
The Mounties secured a third run in the sixth inning, courtesy of a run-scoring double by sophomore second baseman Asia Chacon. She went 1 for 1 with two successful sacrifice bunts (SACs). With a comfortable 3-0 lead, Urbina finished the game with a flawless 1-2-3 seventh inning.
Overall, it was a dominant performance by the Mounties, and the pitching and batting efforts of Urbina, Cortez, Olson, Mendoza, and Chacon were particularly noteworthy.
Game 2
Mt. SAC 7, SD Mesa 3
In the clinching game of the best-of-three series, the Mounties wasted no time establishing their dominance. They scored early and often, accumulating a commanding 7-0 lead in four of the first five innings, which they maintained for the remainder of the game.
Three players led the offensive charge for the Mounties, each recording multiple hits. Ashley Diaz was the standout performer, going 3 for 4 with a home run and an RBI. Sophomore left fielder Desiree Bravo and Mia Mendoza also had strong performances, each contributing two hits. Mendoza had a run and two RBIs, while Bravo scored two runs.
Freshman pitcher Mirannda Rodriquez kept her record perfect at 14-0, delivering an outstanding five innings of work. She allowed only one hit and struck out six batters.
The Mounties got off to a flying start, scoring twice in the first inning. Mendoza hit an RBI single to score Bravo, who had reached base on a single. This was followed by a scoring fly ball by sophomore first baseman Brianna Goris.
The Mounties added single runs in the third and fourth innings. Diaz hit a solo home run in the third, while Mendoza hit a run-scoring single in the fourth.
In the fifth inning, the Mounties added three more runs, with three of the first four batters scoring. Olivia Ortiz started the inning with a single, followed by a pinch-hit double by Alyssa Castaneda. Asia Chacon hit a triple to left-center, scoring Ortiz and pinch runner Emily Barba. Chacon crossed home plate with the third run of the inning on a scoring fly ball by Katelyn Olson, extending the Mounties' lead to 7-0.
The Olympians managed to score a single run in the sixth inning and two more in the seventh, but it was too little too late, as the Mounties secured the 7-3 win and advanced to the CCCAA Super Regional.
