Citrus Splits with Cuesta

After dropping a 16-8 run-rule loss in five innings in the opener, Citrus College grabbed a mercy-rule victory of its own in the second game of the doubleheader, beating Cuesta College 9-1 in five innings.

Both the Owls and Cougars move to 9-8 with the split.

Citrus found itself trailing 16-3 heading into the bottom of the fifth in the first game of the day. Needing six runs to extend the game, the Owls got close and put a rally together to score five but couldn't get one more to end the game in five innings.

In the nightcap, Cuesta once again scored first but Citrus didn't panic and responded with three runs in the bottom of the first. Alexis Cordero led off with a free trip to first before Leah Morales joined her on base. Patty Rodriguez then blasted her sixth home run of the season to put the Owls in front, 3-1.

Citrus upped its lead to 4-1 with a run in the third and put the game away in the fifth. With one out and runners on third and second, Jasani Zavalza doubled to right, allowing but runners to come home.

The Owls loaded the bases back up with two outs and Cordero drilled a pitch down the left field line to send all three runners home and end the game early with the run rule in play.

Citrus gets a brief break tomorrow before resuming Western State Conference action on Thursday at home with LA Valley coming to Glendora for a 2:30 p.m. game.