Owls' Offense too Much for Bulldogs

The Citrus College softball team delivered a dominant offensive performance, racking up 12 hits over five innings in an 11-3 mercy-rule win over Allan Hancock College today. 

With the victory, Citrus improves to 15-13 overall and remain 5-1 in conference play. Allan Hancock drops to 6-10 overall and 4-4 in conference. 

The Owls wasted no time getting on the board. In the bottom of the first inning, Madelyn Hajj launched her seventh home run of the season — the second most in the conference — with a three-run blast over the center field fence to give Citrus an early 3-0 lead. 

The offense kept rolling in the second inning. Breanna Aguilar scored on a wild pitch, followed by a two-RBI single from Alivia Martinez. Rylee Praytor capped off the inning with a sacrifice fly to score Martinez, extending the Owls' lead to 7-0. 

In the fourth, Aguilar drew a bases-loaded walk to bring home Praytor, making it 8-0. 

Allan Hancock showed fight in the fifth, scoring three runs to avoid the shutout. But Citrus responded in the bottom of the inning to trigger the mercy rule. Sofia Femath doubled to drive in Aalijah Aranda, and Praytor followed with a two-run single to score Femath and Martinez, sealing the 11-3 win. 

Owls' Standouts vs. Allan Hancock College 

• Alivia Martinez: 3-for-4, 2 RBIs, 3 runs, 3 steals (2nd in conference behind Ava Camarena) 

• Rylee Praytor: 2-for-2, 3 RBIs, 2 runs, 1 walk, 1 steal 

• Madelyn Hajj: 1-for-1, HR, 3 RBIs, 2 walks, 1 run, 1 steal 

• Aalijah Aranda: 2-for-3, 2 runs scored 

• Sofia Femath: 1-for-4, 1 RBI, 1 run 

Camila Abundis (W, 4-3) played well on the mound with two shutout innings, striking out two. Caitlin Kelley followed with 2.2 scoreless innings and three strikeouts to keep the Bulldogs in check.

The Owls resume conference play on Tuesday, April 1st, when they host College of the Canyons at 2:30 p.m.