(Walnut, CA) The Mt. SAC Baseball Team captured the best of 3 series over visiting Santa Ana College (#9 seed) to advance to the second round of the California Community College Athletic Association (CCCAA) Southern California Regionals.  Following a 15-5 loss, in game 1, to Santa Ana (25-17) on Friday, Mt. SAC (24-18) bounced back on Saturday with a, 11-5, win over the Dons to force a decisive Game 3. The Mounties then cruised to a 16-10 victory in the final game to advance to the Super Regional round against #3 seed Riverside City College (RCC) (32-10).

Game 1 of the best-of-three Super Regional series will take place on Thursday, May 9th at 2:00 pm, game 2 on Friday, May 10th and the "if necessary" game 3 will follow on Saturday, the 11th of May.  All games will be held at RCC.  

Mt. SAC 11 Santa Ana 5 (Game 2)

Down 4-3 through three innings, Mt. SAC's Derek Zavala (3-for-5, RBI, 2 R, 2 SB) scored on a throwing error to tie the score. Michael Sandoval (2-for-4, RBI, R) followed with a sacrifice fly to right that scored Dylan Zavala to give the Mounties a, 5-4. lead. Santa Ana added a run in the bottom of the fifth, to tie the game at five.

In the top of the sixth, Mt. SAC added three runs on a single by Caleb Eills (1-for-5, 2 RBI, 2 R), a ground out by Albert Luevano (1-for-4, RBI) and a passed ball to take an 8-5 lead.  The Mounties added a run in the seventh and two more in the ninth to seal the win and to force a third and decisive game.

Steven Ordorica (6-1) earned the win for Mt. SAC, throwing 4.2 innings in relief of starter Matt Garcia (4.1 IP, 5 R, 2 K). Ordorica struck out three while holding the Dons scoreless.

Omar Veloz (2-for-4, 2 R) had a pair of doubles for the Mounties, while teammate Tyus Santa Anna (1-for-3) had one.

Mt. SAC 16 Santa Ana 10 (Game 3)

Mt. SAC exploded for 14 runs on seven hits in the first inning and then added two more runs in the bottom of the second, before Santa Ana scored its first run of the game.

The Dons chipped away at the Mounties' lead from there, but came up short, 16-10.

Sandoval (3-for-4, 3 RBI, 2 R, SB), Derek Zavala (3-for-5, 3 RBI, 2 R), Kyle Koontz (3-for-5, R), Alex Gonzalez (2-for-4, 3 RBI, 2 R), Veloz (2-for-5, 4 RBI, 2 R, 2B, HR), Eills (1-for-3, 3 R, 2B), and Dylan Zavala (1-for-3, 3 R) were instrumental in Mt. SAC's offensive output.

Starter Christian Longoria (5-4) picked up the win for the Mounties, pitching six innings while striking out 11.

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