On Friday, May 3, Mt. SAC softball opened up their postseason game play with a clean sweep against the San Diego Mesa Olympians with a score of 13–0.
SAC started their series against the Olympians in a home game that only went on for five innings due to SAC’s lead.
Mt. SAC sophomore pitcher Aleyna Urbina (7) started the game off strong by only allowing one hit to get past her in the top of the first inning.
The bottom of the first was SAC’s strongest of the game with smart base running SAC was able to score six runs on three hits.
After getting hit by a pitch and stealing second, freshman third baseman Katie Griego (6) was able to be the first to score for SAC on a throw, after sophomore shortstop Janis Espinoza (19) singled up the middle and advanced to second.
Espinoza (19) was the second to score after sophomore pitcher Alyssa Rubalcava (14) reached first on an error, and advanced to second. Rubalcava (14) was next to score after freshman third baseman Mercedes Alba (20) got hit by a pitch, and freshman catcher Morgan Kneubuhler (9) singled to left field.
The inning ended with Alba (20) scoring followed by Kneubuhler (9) and sophomore second baseman Amanda Esquivel (24).
The second inning went the same for the Olympians with only one hit past Urbina (7). SAC had yet another successful inning by scoring an additional five runs on five hits and leaving three left on base.
The stand out hitter in the second inning was Esquivel (24) after she hit a homerun allowing sophomore outfielder Rianna De La Barcena (8) to score as well.
According to Esquivel (24), she believes the team as a whole played really well. As far as her individual gameplay went, she believed in her training and let it show on the field.
“I went out there and took it pitch by pitch, and trusted my abilities,” she added.
San Diego Mesa kept up their streak of getting one hit in the top of the third inning even after a change in pitchers from SAC. Urbina (7) was taken out, and sophomore pitcher Dallas Garcia (13) replaced her.
SAC slowed down in scoring during the third by scoring twice. Freshman outfielder Mia Martin (27) scored after freshman third baseman Gabrielle Flores (4) hit a single out to right field. Freshman first baseman Audrey White (11) was the second to score in the inning after Griego (6) tripled.
The fourth inning was uneventful on both sides with both teams only getting one hit. During the fifth and final inning the gap was too big as San Diego Mesa was trying to make a comeback. The final score of the game was 13–0 after five innings.
Mt. SAC had two players make it to home twice, and that was Kneubuler (9) and Esquivel (24).
According to Knueubuler (9) “Dominate every pitch, and to stay in the present,” she said was the mindset of the team going into this game.
SAC hopes to win the next game against San Diego Mesa to secure a spot in the second round of playoffs.
