STATE JUNIOR COLLEGE SOFTBALL TOURNAMENT : Moorpark, Mt. SAC Turn Back Calendar : Regional: Teams to meet in first round under strikingly similar circumstances to those of a year ago.

Last year, in the first round of the Southern California regional of the state softball tournament, third-seeded Moorpark College avenged a regular-season loss by beating 14th-seeded Mt. San Antonio.

Today, in the first round of the Southern California regional, third-seeded Moorpark again will attempt to avenge a regular-season loss when it plays 14th-seeded Mt. San Antonio (18-16), the visitor in the 3 p.m. game.

“The similarities are unbelievable,” Moorpark Coach Will Thurston said. “It’s great to play a team you know is going to be a competitive mismatch, but in all honesty Mt. San Antonio is a good ballclub. They have a pitcher that can control games.”

That pitcher, Carrie Evans, earned the win after hitting a grand slam that capped Mt. SAC’s two-out rally from a 6-2 seventh-inning deficit in an 8-7 victory earlier this spring at Moorpark.

Moorpark (26-9), which won the Western State Conference title for the fourth consecutive year, will counter with freshman right-hander Robin Thomas (24-6), who likely will start every state tournament game.

Moorpark finished third in the state last season, and Thurston believes this squad is one of the finest hitting teams he has had in his seven years as coach.

“We definitely have the ability to get to the final eight,” Thurston said.

If Moorpark wins today, it will play in the best-of-three second round Saturday and Sunday against the winner of the Ventura-Cerritos game. Second-round victors advance to the final eight, which will include four teams each from the north and south and will be held in Sunnyvale, May 19-21.

Antelope Valley also will attempt to get a little closer to the final eight after losing first-round games in each of the past two years.

However, 15th-seeded Antelope Valley (15-19), runner-up in the Foothill Conference, must play a 3 p.m. road game today against second-seeded Cypress (37-6).