Esperanza put together a four-run rally in the second inning and went on to stun top-ranked Mater Dei, 5-2, in the first round of the CIF-SS Division I softball playoffs on Thursday at Thornton Park.

The Aztecs needed an at-large berth to get into the playoffs after finishing fourth in Sunset League and they needed a 6-4 wild-card victory over Roosevelt on Tuesday just to get into the main draw.

Esperanza (18-13-2) moves on to the second round where it will play host to third-ranked El Modena on Tuesday at 3:15 p.m. The Monarchs finished the season 20-5-1.

The Aztecs got eight hits off Mater Dei’s freshman ace Bri Matthews. Trea Steele led the way, going 2 for 3 with a double and three RBIs. Brittany Virgoe went 2 for 3 with an RBI and Kailyn Johnson went 2 for 3 with a run scored.

(More softball playoff results to come on OCVarsity.) 

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