Glendora, CA (Softball) – After defeating the states previously #1 ranked Mt. SAC last Thursday, the Lady Owls dropped two straight at the Green and Gold Tournament this past weekend. The Lady Owls looked to bounce back this afternoon, as they rode Corinne Milligan and her 14 strikeouts to a 2-1 win over Ventura College.
Milligan got the Lady Owls started off on the right foot, striking out the first 7 batters she faced, and not allowing a single batter on base. That changes in the top of the 3rd when she hit Janelle Perez. Milligan would strike out the next two batters, but on the second strike-out, the ball escaped through the legs of catcher Ashlie Paredez and the runner would get to 1st safely.
With two outs and runners on 1st and 2nd, Ventura’s Jamie Gomez hit a double to left center that would score one runner, and give the Pirates a 1-0 lead. Milligan finally ended the inning striking out yet another batter, and bringing the Lady Owls up to bat.
With Ventura making their run in the top of the 3rd, the Lady Owls answered in the bottom of the inning by finally figuring out Ventura pitcher Christie Guzman. Paredez kicked the inning off with a double to center field. Denise Hernandez would come to the plate and move Paredez to third on a sacrifice, bringing Milligan to the dish. Milligan would help her own cause hitting a single and driving in Paradez to tie the score up at 1.
With the score tied and 2 outs in the bottom of the third Citrus wasn’t done yet, as Nicole Frusher stepped the plate and hit a triple to right field, scoring Caitlin Tolan and giving the Lady Owls their lead at 2-1.
Ventura wouldn’t threaten again until the top of the 5th as they put runners on 1st and 3rd with two outs. Jamie Gomez came up to bat, and Milligan got her to fly out to left field to end the Pirate threat. The Lady Owls would also threaten in the same inning, but that threat was short lived as Alex Arguelles, after battling pitch after pitch lined out to the short-stop who threw out Paradez at 3rd base.
Both Ventura and Citrus would be sat down in order the next inning, and the Lady Owls would take a 2-1 lead into the top of the 7th. Ventura led the inning off with a single to right field. The runner advanced to second base after right-fielder Carolina Betancourt just missed catching the ball and it slipped past her. Milligan would strike out the next batter, and get the 3rd batter to ground out at 1st. The batter did however manage to move the runner on second to third, setting the Pirates up with a runner on 3rd base and two outs. Milligan hunkered down and did what she did best striking out the final batter of the game to preserve her 4th win of the year.
In the win it was Milligan who led the Lady Owls on the mound and in the batters box as she went 3 for 3 with a run batted in. Ashley Paradez also had a stellar day at the plate going 2 for 3 with a run scored.
With the win the Lady Owls, ranked #3 in Southern California and #6 in the state, improve to 4-2 on the season. Citrus continues its WSC cross-divisional play this week as it travels to San Luis Obispo to take on Cuesta College. Game time is 2:30 pm on Thursday February 15th.
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