Owls Open Up Conference Play With Win

Glendora, CA -- The Citrus College Softball program kicked off it's 2015 conference slate on Thursday when they played host to Santa Monica College. For the eighth straight year, the Owls started WSC Blue Division play with a win, defeating the visiting Corsairs 7-1.

It took a few innings to get the Owls' offense rolling. Sophomore Valerie Velasquez drove in the game's first run, with an RBI single back up the middle of the field. One at bat later, sophomore Erinn Jaramillo made it 2-0 with an RBI double to left-center scoring Velasquez.

Citrus kept it going in the fourth with a pair of home runs. Sophomore Sandra "Gaby" Vera notched her first big fly of the season with a solo shot to center field. Two at bats later, freshman Kaitlyn Garza crushed the first pitch she saw over the left field fence, driving in herself and sophomore Kiana "Kalei" Guillermo who had walked in the previous at bat.

The Owls didn't stop there, as Vera drove in another run with an RBI groundout in the fifth. Santa Monica would score in the top of the sixth to prevent the shutout, but Jaramillo responded with a solo shot in the bottom half of the inning to make it 7-1.

Freshman Autumn Bartholomy picked up her third win of the season after her effort in the circle. Bartholomy pitched a complete game, allowing seven hits, no walks, and one run, while striking out two.

With the win, Citrus improves to 8-4 overall and 1-0 in WSC Blue play. The Owls will be back at home on Friday when they play host to Cerritos College at 2:30 PM and Fullerton College at 7:00 PM.