Split With Antelope Drops Owls Into First Place Tie

Lancaster, CA -- The Citrus College Softball team made the tough trip up to the high desert on Tuesday afternoon for a Western State Conference Blue Division Double-Header with host Antelope Valley College. The Owls came away with a split, dropping them into a tie for 1st place in the increasingly tough WSC Blue.

Citrus had to battle all day long, as the Marauders came out strong with quick punches. In the first game, Antelope scored once in the first and five times in the second to take a 6-0 lead. The Owls rallied with four in the top of the third, but Antelope came right back and scored two more in the bottom half to extend their lead to 8-4. The Owls never gave in though and slowly worked their way back into the game. Citrus scored twice in the top of the fifth, and then got back to back jacks by freshman Jessica Brown and sophomore Megan Troutman in the top of the seventh to put the Owls on top 9-8, where it would stay after the bottom of the seventh.

In the game, freshman Anissa Gallegos (9-3) picked up the win, pitching the complete contest. Gallegos gave up 15 hits and all eight runs, but only four of the eight were earned. At the plate, sophomore Erinn Jaramillo was 3 for 4 with three runs scored and an RBI, while Brown was 1 for 1 with two runs and two RBI's, drawing three walks on the game.

In the second contest, it initially appeared as if momentum was back on the Owls' side. Citrus scored the first run in the top of the third, but the Marauders answered right back with two in the bottom half to go up 2-1. Antelope added a run in the bottom of the fourth, but Citrus briefly regained the lead in the top of the fifth with four scores that made it 5-3. Antelope quickly came back with three in the bottom half of the inning then added an insurance score in the bottom of the sixth as they came away with a 7-5 win.

Brown went 2 for 3 in the second game with a pair of scores and an RBI, belting her second home run of the game.

With the win and the loss, Citrus moves to 15-6 overall and 5-1 in WSC Blue play, tied for first with Canyons and a game up on Antelope. Citrus has another tough road test this Thursday when they travel to Glendale College for a 2:30 PM start.