Eight-Run Second Powers Citrus Past No. 19 Saddleback

Citrus College Softball earned its third straight mercy-rule win with a 10-2 victory over No. 19-ranked Saddleback College on Tuesday, ending the game after five innings.

With the win, Citrus improved to 4-3 overall, while Saddleback also moved to 4-3 on the season.

The Owls broke the game open with an eight-run second inning, sending 11 batters to the plate and scoring on six hits. Miranda McKiernan opened the scoring with a ground-rule RBI double to bring home Jocelyn Escobedo. Brooke Whiteman followed with an RBI single to score Izzy Poveda, and Alivia Martinez drove in McKiernan with a single to left. Jaelynn Eaves added a two-run single to plate Martinez and Whiteman, Mia Godoy followed with an RBI single to score Eaves, and Poveda capped the inning with a two-run double to score Escobedo and Godoy for an 8-0 lead.

Saddleback scored single runs in the third and fifth innings, but Martinez sealed the win with an inside-the-park walk-off home run in the bottom of the fifth.

Citrus finished with 10 runs on 11 hits, led by Martinez, who went 2 for 4 with a home run and three RBIs. Eaves went 2 for 3 with a double and two RBIs, while Poveda added a double and two RBIs. Godoy, McKiernan and Whiteman each drove in a run. Escobedo scored twice and doubled, and Grace Twente added a hit and a sacrifice.

Brissa Ayon earned the win with a complete-game five-inning performance, allowing two runs (one earned) on seven hits with three strikeouts and no walks to improve to 4-1 on the season.

Citrus returns to action Wednesday, Feb. 5, hosting Ventura College at 1 p.m.