The Lady Mustangs softball team advanced to the Sweet 16 after winning a best of three series against the Ohlone Renegades on May 3.
The Mustangs won game one on May 2, 4-1 behind Sophomore Allie Mendez’s superb pitching, but weren’t able to complete the sweep in game two.
After being shut down for six innings, the Renegades scored two runs off Mendez to take a 2-1 lead in the top of the 7th.
“I pitched 14 innings against this team, and I could not of wished for anything better to happen,” said Mendez. “Not saying I expected it to happen sooner, but I was prepared to close that game out in better fashion.”
The team got the bases loaded in the bottom of the inning, but were unable to tie the game and loss game two, 2-1.
In game 3, Ohlone jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead in the first inning thanks to McKayla Saavendra three-run homer off Freshman Kristin Borst.
“I knew I had to get the runs in to do what’s best for the team,” said Hernandez.
The blast had Ohlone fans screaming thinking victory.
Borst allowed one run the rest of the way.
“After the first inning I felt more confidence, more relax,” said Borst. “Our team started hitting more hitting, so I felt more confident.”
The Mustangs’ began the team’s rally in the bot- tom of the inning with a bases loaded walk that made it 3-1.
In the second, the Mustangs exploded with three runs to take the lead and quiet the opposition.
Arianna Hernandez doubled in two more runs in the third inning to make it 8-3.
Up next is Big 8 Conference rival Diablo Valley College Vikings at the College of San Mateo with first pitch at 4 p.m.
