Ayon’s Complete Game Lifts No. 16 Citrus Past ELAC

No. 16 ranked Citrus College Softball picked up a 4-2 home win against East Los Angeles College on Wednesday, April 8. The win moves the Owls to 24-11 overall, while they remain 6-3 in conference play as Wednesday's game was a non-conference matchup.

The Owls scored in the bottom of the opening inning, as Alivia Martinez came around to score on a wild pitch, with Grace Twente advancing to third on the play.

Citrus added to its lead in the second inning when Brooke Whiteman lifted a sacrifice fly to left field, driving in Miranda McKiernan to make it 2-0.

East Los Angeles got on the board in the third on an RBI single, but the Owls answered in the bottom half. Mia Godoy delivered a sacrifice fly to score Jaelynn Eaves, extending the lead to 3-1.

After the Huskies cut the deficit to 3-2 in the fifth inning on another RBI single, Citrus responded once again. Jocelyn Escobedo came through with an RBI double to center field, plating Twente for an insurance run and a 4-2 advantage.

The Owls totaled seven hits in the contest, with Twente and Escobedo each recording two hits to lead the offense. Martinez notched her team-leading 19th double of the season, while Miranda McKiernan also doubled and Eaves added her fourth triple of the year, as Citrus consistently put pressure on the defense. Godoy and Whiteman each contributed sacrifice flies, accounting for two of the team's three RBIs.

In the circle, Brissa Ayon (20-8) delivered a complete-game performance on her birthday, allowing two runs on seven hits over seven innings. She walked one and struck out one, throwing 90 pitches, 55 for strikes, while working out of multiple situations to keep ELAC at bay.

Citrus will resume conference play on Thursday, April 9, hosting Bakersfield College at 2 p.m.