Owls Double-Up On Bakersfield

Glendora, CA -- The Citrus College Softball program kept the ball rolling in a positive direction on Tuesday afternoon when they played host to visiting Bakersfield College in WSC Blue Division action. The Owls doubled up the Renegades winning 10-2 and 8-0, both in six innings.

It took a few innings for Citrus to get going, but once they did, they never slowed down. Freshman Jessica Brown got it rolling with a three-run blast in the bottom of the third to take a 3-0 lead. In the fourth, freshman Kaitlyn Garza would draw a bases loaded RBI walk, before a groundout by sophomore Valerie Velasquez made it 5-0. Citrus again added another in the bottom of the fifth, when fielding miscue by Bakersfield allowed Brown to score for the second time of the day.

Bakersfield would flash signs of life with a pair in the top of the sixth, but Brown put all of that to rest in the bottom of the sixth, when she followed up freshman Brittny Zepeda's RBI single back up the middle of the field with another three-run shot, this one to centerfield to end the game early.

Freshman Anissa Gallegos (7-2) would earn the win in the circle, pitching all six innings, giving up eight hits, and zero walks, while striking out five Renegade batters. Brown finished the first game 2 for 4 with three runs and six RBI's.

In the night cap, the Owls seemingly picked up where they left off, as Brown a pitch over the left-field fence to make it 3-0. The Owls would be shutdown over the next two innings before scoring four in the bottom of the fourth. Freshman Stepanie Noriega drove in a run with a triple to right-center field, and then scored when the relay in was mishandled by Bakersfield. A few plays later, sophomore Erinn Jaramillo drove in a pair with a two RBI single to right. Sophomore Bobbi Stalnaker had the coup de gras in the bottom of the sixth with an RBI single to center field to make it 8-0.

Freshman Autumn Bartholomy (5-2) was lights out in the circle on the evening, pitching a complete game three hitter. Bartholomy walked none and struck out four.

With the two wins, Citrus improves to 12-4 overall and 3-0 in WSC Blue play. The Owls will hit the road for a crucial early season showdown with College of the Canyons on Thursday afternoon. Both teams are ranked #7 in the State and #4 in SoCal. First pitch is set for 2:30 PM.