Cypress staves off elimination with 3-2 win over Mt. SAC
Cypress advances to face San Mateo tomorrow at 3 p.m.
WALNUT, CA — South No. 3 Seed Cypress College held on to defeat South No. 2 South Seed Mt. SAC 3-2 in an elimination game on day two of the 3C2A Softball State Championships.
With the win, the Chargers (40-7) advance to another elimination game and will play San Mateo (39-8) Saturday at 3:00 p.m. at Mt. SAC. The Mounties end their season 40-7.
The Chargers held Mt. SAC four times in the game with runners in scoring position, as Cypress pitcher Emily Rush improved her record in the circle to 31-5.
Cypress wasted no time getting on the scoreboard in the first inning. Rush reached first base off an infield single to second base and advanced to third when Jaylene Durate stepped up next and reached on an error. Second baseman Kaitlyn Reynolds followed and hit a sacrifice fly to left to bring in Rush and give the Chargers the opening 1-0 lead. Rush, who pitched a complete game with three strikeouts, finished two for four with an RBI.
Rush held Mt. SAC in check through the first four innings allowing just two hits and got out of a bases-loaded jam in the third inning.
Postgame with @CYPRESSChargers Emily Rush, 2-4, RBI, Run, CG Win pic.twitter.com/6kozNlGsig
— 3CFCA (@3CFCA) May 20, 2023
The Chargers scored twice in the fourth inning to take a 3-0 lead. Ashlyn Ortiz hit an RBI double to left field that sent freshman right fielder Mikala Jacobsen home. Ortiz scored the second run of the inning on an infield hit by Rush.
Mt. SAC finally broke through with two runs in the fifth inning off four consecutive hits. Shortstop Katelyn Olson started the hit parade with an infield single, followed by another single from sophomore second baseman Asia Chacon, who finished two for three with a run scored.
Olson scored the first run for the Mounties off an RBI double by sophomore centerfielder Mia Mendoza. Mendoza scored on the fourth hit of the inning by sophomore designated player Brianna Goris. Mendoza finished the game two for three at the plate with a double.
Mt. SAC had one last scoring chance in the next inning but left pinch hitter Kassandra Martinez on third.
Designated player Jaiden Stern led Cypress with three singles in the game. Jaylene Duarte went two for four with a double
John M. Sherrard (3C2A)