Owls Get Three Wins in Two Days

The Citrus College softball team is finding its groove at the perfect time, picking up three consecutive wins over the last two days to improve to 13-12 overall and a perfect 5-0 in conference play. The Owls opened the stretch with a 6-0 shutout victory at LA Mission College on Thursday before sweeping Grossmont College in a Friday doubleheader with a 19-2 win in game one and a hard-fought 4-2 win in game two. 

LA Mission College goes to 7-16 overall and 2-2 in conference after yesterday's loss. Grossmont College goes to 5-13 overall after today's losses and stays 2-2 in conference games.  

In Thursday's matchup against LA Mission College, Citrus used a late offensive surge to secure a 6-0 win. After three scoreless innings, the Owls broke through with six runs over the final three frames to put the game away. 

Sofia Femath got the scoring started with a two-run single in the fourth inning to give Citrus a 2-0 lead. In the fifth, Rylee Praytor drove in another run with a groundout, extending the lead to 3-0. The Owls continued to apply pressure in the sixth as Alivia Martinez and Madelyn Hajj each delivered RBI singles to push the lead to 5-0. Femath capped off the scoring in the seventh with another RBI single, driving in Ava Camarena to seal the 6-0 win. 

Femath was the offensive standout, going 2-for-5 with three RBIs. Martinez contributed with a 2-for-5 performance that included an RBI and three stolen bases, tying her season high. Camarena displayed her speed, going 1-for-2 with three stolen bases, two runs scored, and a walk. 

On the mound, Caitlin Kelley (W, 8-8) pitched a complete-game shutout with seven strikeouts while allowing just three hits. 

The Owls' bats came alive in Friday's doubleheader opener against Grossmont College, as they put up a season-high 19 runs on 19 hits to secure a dominant 19-2 win in five innings. 

Citrus wasted no time getting started, with Madelyn Hajj launching a three-run home run in the first inning — her sixth of the season. After a sacrifice bunt by Camarena and an RBI double from Bailey Aguilar, the Owls jumped out to a quick 5-0 lead after the first inning. 

Grossmont managed to score two runs in the top of the second, but the Owls responded with an impressive six-run inning in the bottom half to put the game out of reach. They added five more runs in the third and three in the fourth as the mercy rule ended the game after five innings. 

Alivia Martinez led the charge, going 3-for-4 with three RBIs and two stolen bases. Praytor also had an impressive performance, going 3-for-4 with three runs scored, an RBI, and a stolen base. Hajj finished 2-for-4 with a home run, three RBIs, and two runs scored. 

Other contributors included Jaelynn Eaves (2-for-4, two RBIs), Ava Camarena (2-for-2, three runs scored, three stolen bases, two RBIs), and Bailey Aguilar (2-for-3, two RBIs, two runs scored). Aleena Ramos added two hits, two runs scored, and an RBI. 

Kelley (W, 9-8) picked up her second win in as many days, throwing three scoreless innings, allowing just one hit, and striking out two. 

The Owls faced a tougher challenge in game two, but timely hitting and solid pitching helped them secure a 4-2 victory and complete the doubleheader sweep. 

Grossmont struck first with a run in the top of the first inning, but Citrus quickly answered with four straight runs to take a 4-1 lead after five innings. 

Grossmont made things interesting with a run in the top of the seventh, but Kelley (W, 10-8) showed poise under pressure. With runners on second and third and two outs, she induced a groundout to end the game and secure her third win of the week. 

Eaves finished 1-for-2 with two RBIs and a walk. Femath added a hit and scored two runs, while Camarena continued her dominance on the basepaths with two more stolen bases, giving her a conference-best 25 steals this season. 

Owls' standouts over last three wins: 

• Sofia Femath: 4-for-9, 3 RBIs, 4 runs scored 

• Alivia Martinez: 7-for-13, 4 RBIs, 5 stolen bases 

• Ava Camarena: 5-for-6, 5 RBIs, 8 stolen bases, 7 runs scored 

• Madelyn Hajj: 3-for-8, home run, 4 RBIs, 3 runs scored 

• Caitlin Kelley: 3-0 record, 14 innings pitched, 3 earned runs, 9 strikeouts 

The Owls will look to extend their winning streak when they visit Antelope Valley College for a conference matchup on Tuesday, March 25th at 2:30 p.m.