Citrus Chases Away Chaffey in Five

Citrus College came alive on offense Wednesday afternoon to grab a 9-1 run-rule victory over Chaffey College.

The Owls improve to 3-1 on the year, while the Panthers drop their first game of the season.

Caitlin Kelley picked up her first win in the circle, allowing just one run and striking out two batters.

Citrus finished with 11 hits with four Owls grabbing two hits in the game: Leah Morales (2-for-4), Desiree Loza (2-for-3), Samantha Meyndert (2-for-3) and Gwendalyn Rivas (2-for-3). Madelyn Hajj, Kelley and Kylie Ruiz also had hits for the home team.

The Owls struck first in the bottom of the first off a Loza RBI double, but the Panthers answered back in their next chance at the plate.

Citrus took back the lead in the third with a bases-loaded walk and added an insurance run in the fourth off another RBI from Loza.

In the bottom of the fifth, Citrus put the game away. With two runners on and one out, Meyndert tagged up from third to extend the Owls' lead to three, 4-1, before Citrus loaded up the bases with two outs.

Loza walked in a run and a Panther error kept the scoring going. Paige Horvat walked in another run to put the Owls closer to the eight-run threshold and Meyndert sealed the deal with a double down the left-field line to score the two runners needed to put the run rule in place and end the game early.

Citrus looks to build on the positives as it hosts Santa Ana College on Friday at 12 p.m.