SOFTBALL: Citrus Scores Five Against Defending CCCAA Champs

Citrus College took on a challenge Friday afternoon, hosting defending CCCAA State Champion Mt. San Antonio College. The Fighting Owls put up a fight and scored three runs against the Mounties, but dropped a 13-5 loss in five innings.

The Owls slip to 2-11 with the defeat, while the Mounties keep rolling at 18-1 on the season.

Mt. SAC jumped out to a 6-0 lead after its first two appearances at the plate, but Citrus broke through in the bottom of the second.

Alexis Cordero led the inning off with a base hit up the middle and Isabella Ramirez joined her on base with a walk. The pair moved into scoring position on a passed ball and Cordero beat the throw at home on a fielder's choice to score the first run.

With two outs and bases loaded, Hailee Reinert knocked a base hit to left field, allowing two more runs to score before Mt. SAC ended the inning.

The Mounties tacked on seven more runs – six in the fourth and one in the fifth – to threaten an early end to the game due to the run rule.

Citrus never gave up, however. The Owls needed three runs to keep the game going and Natalie Adams drove the first run home with a double down the right field line. Vanessa Gutierrez then sent Adams home with a base hit to center.

The Owls loaded up the bases with one out, but the Mounties managed to get the next two outs to end the game early, 13-5.

Citrus resumes Western State Conference action on Tuesday, hosting Antelope Valley College for a game at 2:30 p.m.