Mesa softball now shares second place in the Pacific Coast Athletic Conference after a 7-0 victory over Imperial Valley College March 16.

Mesa has not made it to the playoffs in four years. However, with a 5-3 conference record, bested only by Grossmont College (5-0), the Olympians are anticipating a successful post season.

“We’re in the hunt for the championship,” said sophomore shortstop Bianca Garcia.

Second ranked batter in the conference, freshman catcher Kelsey McGowan, also named Pacific Coast Athletic Conference’s Women’s Athlete of the Week Feb. 28 with a batting average of .467, hit her fifth homerun of the season while tacking on another RBI to her statistics.

Freshmen pitcher Natalie Smith started the landslide against Imperial Valley, who is ranked sixth in the conference, with three consecutive strikeouts in the top of the third. In that same inning Gonzalez followed up with a ground ball to center field resulting in two RBIs.

The Olympian ladies looked more polished than sophomore first-base Bianca Gonzalez wanted to let on – the ladies took advantage of Imperial Valley’s infield by utilizing bunts to get on base and bunt fakes to sneak go ahead runs from first to second.

“We need to get our bunts down and not miss signs,” said Gonzalez modestly.

The ladies are confident going into the final weeks of the regular season although seven conference games remain against San Diego City, Palomar, Southwestern and Grossmont.

“If we win one this next week we’ll be in a really good position [in the conference],” said Head Coach Jaclyn Guidi.

Mesa lost 4-3 at City College Feb. 18 bringing their overall record to 11-10. The next game is at 3 p.m. on March 26 at home against Southwestern College.