Owls Dominate Dons

Citrus College dominated an 11-4 victory over Santa Ana College Friday afternoon.

The Owls improve to 4-1 on the year, while the Dons drop to 0-2.

Citrus exploded on offense to finish with 14 hits in the win, led by Leah Morales' 3-for-4 performance with three runs and one RBI. Madelyn Hajj (2-for-4), Paige Horvat (2-for-2), Mariah Ruiz (2-for-4), and Rylee Praytor (2-for-4) all had two hits in the game. Desiree Loza, Kaliah Lopez, and Samantha Meyndert also had hits for the Owls.

Meyndert picked up her third win of the year with six strikeouts in seven innings pitched, allowing just one earned run.

The Owls got on the board in their first chance at the plate, plating five runs in the bottom of the first. Errors plagued Citrus in the top of the second, allowing the Dons to score three runs and get back in the game.

In the bottom of the inning, back-to-back RBI singles from Meyndert and Ruiz gave the Owls back some cushion, 7-3, before a two-RBI single from Horvat in the third threatened to put the run rule in play, 9-3.

Hajj knocked a ground-rule double in the fifth to put the Owls just on the cusp on ending the game early, 10-3, but the Dons managed to skate out of the inning before Citrus could do so.

Santa Ana took one run back in the top of the sixth, but an RBI base hit from Morales all but sealed the victory for the Owls in the bottom of the inning.

Citrus is scheduled to play at Ventura College on Tuesday at 1 p.m., but weather is also on the forecast so it could change.