Softball Storms Past LA Valley, Sweeps Doubleheader at Allan Hancock

Citrus College Softball picked up three wins in two days, defeating Los Angeles Valley College 14-8 at home in a conference game, and sweeping a doubleheader at Allan Hancock College, winning game one 12-1 in five innings (mercy rule) and game two 9-5. With these victories, the Owls extend their winning streak to five games and move to 18-7 overall and 3-0 in conference.

In Thursday, March 12's win at home against Los Angeles Valley College, the Monarchs opened the scoring in the first inning, but the Owls quickly responded. Jocelyn Escobedo delivered a two-RBI single to center field, scoring Jaelynn Eaves and Grace Twente to give Citrus a 2-1 lead. Shortly after, Anaya Burley launched a three-run home run, extending the Owls' advantage to 5-1 after the first inning. Citrus added to its lead in the second when Alivia Martinez blasted a two-run homer to score Brooke Whiteman, followed by an RBI single from Mia Godoy to make it 8-1.

LA Valley chipped away with four runs in the third and a two-run homer in the fourth, pulling within 8-7. Citrus responded in the bottom of the fourth as Eaves lifted a sacrifice fly to score Twente, pushing the lead to 9-7. The Owls broke the game open in the fifth inning, scoring four more runs. Whiteman delivered a two-RBI single to score Burley and Aalijah Aranda, Martinez followed with an RBI single to bring in Samantha Juarez, and Eaves added another sacrifice fly to make it 13-7. LA Valley added a run in the sixth, but Citrus scored once more when Twente reached on a fielder's choice, allowing Burley to score the Owls' 14th run.

Burley led the offense with a perfect 4-for-4 performance, scoring three runs and driving in three RBIs, including a home run, her fourth of the season, and a double. Martinez finished 2-for-4 with a homer, her fifth of the season, and three RBIs, while Whiteman went 2-for-3 with two runs scored and two RBIs. Escobedo added two RBIs, Godoy drove in one run, and Eaves contributed two RBIs on sacrifice flies. Citrus totaled 14 runs on 14 hits. In the circle, Brissa Ayon (W, 14-4) earned the complete-game win, striking out seven while allowing eight runs, seven earned, on 12 hits and issuing just one walk.

In Friday, March 13's 12-1 first game at Allan Hancock, Citrus erupted for eight runs in the second inning and never looked back. Escobedo started the rally with an RBI double to score Burley, followed by a run on a wild pitch. Whiteman delivered a two-RBI double to score Samantha Juarez and Aranda, extending the lead to 4-0. Eaves reached on a fielder's choice for another RBI, Mia Godoy drove in a run on a walk, Burley added a sacrifice fly, and Escobedo capped the inning with another RBI single to make it 8-0. Allan Hancock scored its lone run in the third, but Citrus added three more in the fourth, including a three-run home run from Aranda, her first of the season, and an RBI double from Martinez, finishing the game with a 12-1 victory under the mercy rule.

Citrus totaled 12 runs on 12 hits with five walks and zero strikeouts. Escobedo went 2-for-2 with two RBIs, Aranda had three RBIs on her home run, Whiteman added two RBIs, and Martinez had two hits and an RBI. Burley scored twice and drove in a run, while Eaves and Godoy each added an RBI. Camila Abundis (W, 1-1) earned the win, pitching all five innings, allowing one run on seven hits while striking out one and walking two.

The Owls completed the doubleheader sweep with a 9-5 win in game two. Citrus scored first when Eaves lifted a sacrifice fly to bring home Martinez, followed by a single from Burley to score Twente. Twente added an RBI double in the second, and Poveda drove in Burley in the third to make it 4-1. Allan Hancock tied the game at 4-4 with three third-inning runs, but Citrus regained the lead in the fourth when Twente singled in Martinez and Eaves doubled in Twente for a 6-4 advantage.

In the sixth, Burley tripled to score Twente and Martinez, followed by a sacrifice fly from Escobedo to make it 9-4. Allan Hancock scored once more in the bottom half, but Citrus held on for the 9-5 victory. Twente went 3-for-3 with a double, two RBIs, three runs scored, and a walk, while Burley finished 2-for-3 with a triple, three RBIs, two runs scored, and a walk. Eaves added a double and two RBIs, Poveda drove in a run with a double, and Escobedo had a sacrifice fly RBI. Martinez scored four runs and stole four bases, tying a career-high.

Abundis started game two, allowing four runs on seven hits with two strikeouts over three innings. Natalie Carmona (W, 3-1) pitched three innings of relief, giving up two runs on three hits with two strikeouts. Brissa Ayon closed the game with a scoreless final inning, striking out two.

The No. 13-ranked Owls in the state will travel to Bakersfield for a 2 p.m. conference game tomorrow, Tuesday, March 17.