Owls Blast Four Homers in Six-Run Sixth to Beat Mt. San Jacinto, 12-8

No. 15 in the state ranked Citrus College Softball rallied for a 12-8 win over Mt. San Jacinto College on Thursday, February 19, improving the Owls to 9-5 overall, while MSJC fell to 7-6.

Citrus trailed early but used a huge sixth inning to pull away in a thrilling comeback. Mt. San Jacinto struck first with a solo home run in the opening frame, but the Owls responded in the second when Brooke Whiteman's two-RBI single scored Izzy Poveda and Anaya Burley. Moments later, Alivia Martinez launched her third home run of the season, a three-run shot that gave Citrus a 5-1 lead.

Mt. San Jacinto chipped away with a two-run homer in the third and tied the game in the fourth on an RBI single followed by a run-scoring groundout. The visitors briefly regained the lead at 8-5 in the sixth with an RBI double and a two-run home run.

Citrus answered with an explosive bottom half of the sixth, scoring six runs on four home runs. Samantha Juarez opened the rally with a two-run blast, her first of the season. Mia Godoy followed with a three-run homer, the first of three straight homers, plating Grace Twente and Jaelynn Eaves to retake the lead at 10-8. Solo shots from Anaya Burley and Izzy Poveda, each their first of the season, completed the scoring and sealed the 12-8 victory.

Martinez led the Owls at the plate, going 1 for 3 with a home run and three RBIs, while Godoy also drove in three runs, finishing 2 for 4 with a homer. Juarez added a 2-for-3 performance with a home run and two RBIs, and Whiteman went 2 for 3 with two RBIs. Twente and Poveda each collected two hits, with Poveda homering and driving in a run, while Burley went 1 for 3 with a home run, an RBI and a walk. As a team, Citrus totaled 12 runs on 13 hits with one walk and 10 strikeouts, leaving four runners on base.

Citrus College will host Golden West College next Tuesday, February 24, at 2 p.m.