No. 13 Citrus Softball Cruises Past LA Mission, 10-2, for 20th Win

No. 13-ranked Citrus College Softball earned a 10-2 mercy-rule win over conference opponent Los Angeles Mission College on Thursday, March 19. The victory marked the Owls' 20th of the season as they improve to 20-7 overall and remain undefeated in conference play at 5-0. LA Mission fell to 10-15 overall and 1-3 in conference.

Sophomore first baseman Mia Godoy got the Owls on the board with an RBI single to score Grace Twente in the bottom of the first inning, giving Citrus a 1-0 lead. The Eagles responded with an RBI double in the top of the second to tie the game at 1-1, but Citrus answered when Alivia Martinez drove in Aalijah Aranda on a fielder's choice. Shortly after, Samantha Juarez stole home on a double steal, with Martinez advancing to second, as the Owls took a 3-1 lead after two innings.

Mission scored its final run in the top of the third to cut the deficit to 3-2, but the Owls put the game away in the bottom of the fourth, scoring eight unanswered runs. Juarez hit a solo home run, her third of the season, and Godoy added a sacrifice fly to score Martinez. Anaya Burley followed with a three-run home run, her fifth of the season, driving in Twente and Jaelynn Eaves. Aranda added an RBI single to bring home Jocelyn Escobedo, and Brooke Whiteman capped the inning with an RBI single to score Aranda, pushing the score to 10-2. Mission was unable to cut the deficit below eight runs, ending the game after five innings.

Twente went 2-for-3 with two runs scored, while Whiteman finished 3-for-3 with an RBI to lead the Owls offensively. Burley hit a home run and drove in three runs, and Juarez added a home run, two runs scored and an RBI. Escobedo recorded her first triple of the season, and Twente doubled as Citrus totaled multiple extra-base hits.

Godoy drove in two runs, including a sacrifice fly, while Aranda and Juarez each added an RBI. Martinez also drove in a run and stole a base.

Brissa Ayon (W, 16-4) pitched a complete five-inning game, allowing two runs on nine hits while striking out one and walking none.

Up next, the Owls host Orange Coast College for a nonconference game on Friday, March 20 at 1 p.m