Posted: May 06, 2013
Getting That Monkey Off the Back
Citrus
(26-12)
9
Cypress
(33-9)
0
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Citrus | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 9 | 14 | 1 |
|
Cypress | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
Cypress, CA -- After blitzing three time defending State Cypress College for another 14 hits and nine runs on Sunday afternoon, the Citrus College Softball program finally shook that proverbial monkey off their backs. The Owls knocked the Chargers out of the post-season with a 9-0 six inning win, and advanced to the "Super Regionals" for the first time in program history.
The Owls picked up right where they left off on Saturday putting a runner on base in the top of the first inning. Citrus did it again in the second inning, putting the runner in scoring position in both instances, but both times ey failed to score.
That all changed in the top of the third inning when a mental error by the Cypress catcher allowed freshman Victoria Baltazar to score from third. After that the flood gates opened. Freshman Sara Moore and Raleen Tellez hit back to back RBI singles to put the Owls up 3-0.
Sophomore Bre Lockett backed that up with yet another RBI single, only to see sophomore Carissa Bender hit an RBI single back up the middle of the field to make it 5-0. Freshman starting pitcher Arianna Sanchez finished up the scoring with a sacrifice fly to left that gave the Owls a commanding 6-0 lead after three.
With the offense continuing to hit the ball hard, it was up to Sanchez to temper the potent Cypress bats. Sanchez did just that and more. Though she didn't overpower the Chargers, giving up five walks and striking out one batter, she was extremely effective giving up just two hits in a complete game shutout.
As Sanchez took care of Cypress batter after Cypress batter, the offense was looking to end the game early. They got that chance in the top of the sixth when freshman Kawehi Ephan singled through the left side of the field to make it 7-0. Moore dealt the Chargers the final blow in e next at bat when she doubled to left-center to make it 9-0.
In the bottom half of the inning, Sanchez got the first two outs with a pair of fly outs to the outfield. The next Charger would get on thanks to Citrus' only error of the weekend, and after that Sanchez issued a walk to put runners n first and second with two outs. Sanchez reached down deep and got a groundout to short top wrap up the win and push the Owls to the second round.
With the win, Citrus improves to 26-12 on the year. Excited as they may be, there's still work left for Citrus. That work starts on Friday when they take on the South's #1 seed Riverside City College. The super regional is a four team double elimination tournament format, as College of the Canyons and Santiago Canyon College will also be in attendance with all games taking place at Riverside. The Owls will take on the Tigers in that opening contest with the first pitch time still to be determined. Stay tuned to CitrusOwls.com for the most recent information in Citrus' continued 2013 post-season run.