Whittier, Calif. – When the bats get going for the No. 4 ranked Mt. SAC Softball Team, things can get out of hand in a hurry for the other team. That was exactly the case Tuesday afternoon as the Mounties rolled to a 17–1 five-inning conference win over Rio Hondo. Mt. SAC improves to 18-2 overall and remains unbeaten in the South Coast Conference at 10-0, while Rio Hondo falls to 2-17 overall and 0-9 in conference play.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
February's Student-Athlete of the Month, Amanada Porterfield, continued to do her thing, getting the scoring going for the Mounties with a three-run bomb in the top of the first that brought home Emily Sandoval and Marti Ann Leach.
Mt. SAC added another run in the second inning after a Rio Hondo error allowed Izel Avalos to cross the plate and extend the lead to 4–0.
Then a big third inning rolled around — not with towering home runs, but with the kind of steady, relentless offense that has defined this Mounties squad all season. Mt. SAC strung together hits, disciplined at-bats, and smart base running to plate six runs and break the game wide open.
Singles from Isabella Aspeitia and Sophia Sanchez pushed the score to 6–0 before Sanchez later came home after Hailey Montoya was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. Mya Arias added a two-RBI single to bring in Avalos and Desiree Morales, and Porterfield capped the inning with a sacrifice fly that scored Montoya and pushed the lead to double digits at 10–0.
The Mounties got into an ever so brief pickle in the bottom of the third when Rio Hondo's Julissa Flores scored on a bases loaded walk for their one and only run of the game.
But of course, they answered immediately in the top of the fourth with a two-RBI double from Montoya that scored Avalos and Brooklyn Game, stretching the lead to 12-1.
The Mounties finished just as strong as they started, adding five runs in the fifth. Sanchez reached on a fielder's choice that brought Porterfield home, Karissa Blanco later walked with the bases loaded to score Aspeitia, and another Rio Hondo error allowed Sanchez to cross the plate. Vanessa Tamayo added the final run with an RBI single that scored Blanco, bringing the Mounties' total to 17 runs, tying their highest scoring output of the season.
Karissa Blanco was dominant in the circle, pitching all five innings for her fourth win of the season. She faced 20 batters, allowing just four hits and one run, while striking out six and walking two. Rio Hondo's Delilah Perez also went five innings, facing 40 batters while allowing 13 hits and 17 runs.
KEY PLAYERS:
- Amanda Porterfield: 3-for-4, 4 RBI, 3 runs, double, home run
- Hailey Montoya: 1-for-2, 4 RBI, 1 run, double
NEXT UP:
The Mounties hit the road for another South Coast Conference matchup Thursday when they face LA Harbor (12-8, 1-5) at 2:00 PM. Mt. SAC will look to keep its conference win streak alive as the season rolls on.
STAY CONNECTED:
Follow Mt. SAC Softball on Twitter @mtsac_softball or Instagram /mt.sacsoftball/
Follow Mt. SAC Athletics on Twitter @MtSAC_athletics Instagram /mtsac_athletics/ or Facebook @Mountie.Athletics
For additional information, please contact the Mt. SAC Sports Information Office at 909.274.4630.