Finished Right

Bakersfield, CA -- The Citrus College Softball team wrapped up their 2013 regular season on Tuesday afternoon and finished the right way. The Owls made the long trek up the five freeway and headed back home with an 8-2 win.

Freshman Kawehi Ephan started things off in the top of the first inning. After not seeing a decent pitch for the better part of the last month, Ephan finally found one she could unload on. The freshman sensation launched a one out pitch over the fence for a two run shot and an early 2-0 lead for Citrus.

The Owls kept it going into the second inning, when freshman Alyssa Lozano doubled home sophomore Katherine Cunningham to make it 3-0. Freshman starting pitcher Arianna Sanchez continued her strong streak of starts by not giving up a run to the Renegades until the bottom of the fourth inning.

Sanchez responded in kind in the top of the sixth, when she gave herself even more cushion with an RBI single. That was followed by a sacrifice fly from freshman Raeleen Tellez and an RBI single from freshman Andrea "Cookie" Perez that made it 6-1 Citrus.

In the seventh, sophomore Carissa Bender, who also replaced Sanchez in the circle in the bottom half of the inning, made it 8-1 with a two RBI single that plated sophomores Bre Lockett and Veronica Ramirez. Bender did give up a single run in the bottom of the seventh, but struck out a pair as the Owls went on to win by six.

With the win, Citrus improves to 24-12 overall and 14-4 in WSC South play. The Owls' season isn't over as they've clinched a spot in the 2013 playoffs. All that's left is for Citrus to find out where they'll be slotted in the 16 team playoffs when the seedings are released Saturday afternoon. 

CitrusOwls.com will have all the latest information on the Citrus Softball team's post-season, including special features, during the week of first round of the post-season.