(San Marcos, CA) The Mt. San Antonio College Baseball team scored early and often and went on to an easy 17-5 win over Cuesta College in the opening game of the 3C2A Super Regionals on Thursday, May 9, at Palomar College.

"Our guys battled back and I'm really impressed with the grit we demonstrated," Mt. SAC coach John Knott said. "Several guys contributed offensively, but Blake Hagerty and Ty Thomas came up with huge extra-base hits."

Trailing 5-1 in the third inning of the double elimination, three-team series, the Mounties scored four runs in the bottom of the inning to tie the game 5-5, and then went on to score in the next four consecutive innings to win going away.

The third was highlighted by a three-run triple from Thomas (3-6, 2 Rs, 5 RBIs), scoring Diego Ortiz (1-5, 3 Rs), Hagerty (3-5, 4 Rs, 3 RBIs, 2 Dbls), and Gibby Morales (1-4, 2 Rs) to trail 5-4.

Catcher Daniel Briones (1-4, R, 2 RBIs) grounded out to second for an RBI, scoring Hagerty for the 5-5 tie.

Mt. SAC (30-13) took the lead for good the next inning, 11-5, with six runs, which was highlighted by two-run doubles by Hagerty and shortstop Andrew Ramirez (2-3, 2 Rs, 2 RBIs, Dbl).

Mt. SAC pounded out 16 hits in the game.

Picking up his 10th win of the season against only two losses, sophomore Matthew Lorenzano went seven innings while striking out seven for his sixth win in a row.

Lorenzano allowed five runs on four hits with two errors on defense behind him but turned it around and shut out the Cougars for the next four innings.

"Matt (Lorenzano) found himself in the fourth inning and was able to get through the seventh and get the win," Knott added.

Lorenzano, who is tied for fourth in the state with his 10 wins, has also totaled 87 strikeouts this season.

In the 43 games this season for the Mounties, they have had 14 pitchers see action.

With its first appearance in the super regionals since the 2019 season, this is the first time the Mounties have won 30 games since 2018 when they advanced to the state championships.