(Saratoga, CA) After starting the season with five consecutive wins, the Mt. SAC Softball team traveled North for a doubleheader at West Valley College.

The Mounties (5-1) opened the twin bill with an 8-6 win over the Vikings and a late comeback fell short with a 5-4 loss in the second game.

Game 1

The Mounties trailed early, 2-1, but with a four-run rally in the fifth inning and three more in the sixth, came away with their fifth consecutive victory of the season.

They pounded out 11 hits, led by two hits each from third baseman Mercedes Alba (2-3, RBI) and Morgan Knubuhler (2-4, R, RBI, Dbl.), while Gabriella Flores had a double and two RBIs.

Dallas Garcia (2-0) started in the circle, pitched four innings, allowed two hits, and struck out three for Mt. SAC.

West Valley, the site for the 3C2A State Championships in May, was trailing 8-2 in the sixth and added three runs in the bottom half of the inning and one run in the seventh.

Game 2  

In the second game with the Mounties leading 1-0, West Valley scored four times and never trailed the rest of the way for the win.

Three players – Janis Espinoza (2-2, R), Knubuhler (2-3, Dbl.), and Katie Griego (2-3 Dbls.) – had two hits each for the Mounties.

Trailing 5-2 in the seventh inning, Mt. SAC rallied for two runs but came up short.