Glendora, CA (Softball) – Sophomore second baseman Denise Hernandez had her best game of the year Thursday afternoon, as she went 3 for 3 with 3 RBI’s in the Lady Owls’ 5-2 victory over Santa Barbara City College.
Citrus freshman Nicole Molina took the ball for the start, and pitched four strong innings against the Vaqueros. Molina gave up just three hits and one earned run as she picked up her second win of the season.
While Molina was a steady force in the circle, Citrus jumped out on Santa Barbara very early scoring four runs in the bottom of the first inning. Freshman Lauren Pulley would lead off the inning with a walk, followed by Ashley Rollice laying down a sacrifice bunt to move Pulley to second.
With Pulley on second base, sophomore Melanie Hansen reached first on a fielder’s choice, and freshman Cassie Ward loaded up the bases after being hit by a pitch. Sophomore Amanda Mays would strike out for the second out of the inning, and the next batter, freshman Desiree Perez recorded the first RBI as she took a pitch to the back, scoring Pulley.
Sophomore Jen Anaya would drive in the second run of the game with a bases loaded walk, which brought Hernandez to the plate. She made the best of it, driving in two runs with a single to left-field, and giving Citrus a 4-0 advantage to start the game.
With a comfortable cushion to work with, Molina would face 11 batters over the first three innings, just two above the minimum. Molina would run into a bit of trouble however, when she gave up a lone run in the top of the fourth.
After getting the first batter to ground-out, Molina gave up a double up the left field line, and after a sacrifice bunt that moved the runner to third, Molina gave up her only run of the game as Santa Barbara’s Michelle Tabone ripped a single to center-field.
As the fifth inning rolled in, Molina gave way to sophomore Brittany Patterson who pitched a strong three innings in relief. Patterson would strike out three batters over her three innings of work, and got an insurance run from the Lady Owls in the bottom of the fifth inning.
After Anaya led off the inning with a double to center field, Hernandez rapped home her third RBI of the game with another single, this time to right field that drove in Anaya and gave Citrus a 5-1 cushion.
With the game ready to be put away, Santa Barbara would make a final push in the top of the seventh, as Tabone led off the inning with a triple to deep left field. The Vaquero’s Kasie Muro would drive Tabone home two pitches later closing the gap by three runs.
After giving up the run, Patterson settled down, struck out the next batter and induced a fly ball to right field, before finishing the inning two batters later with a ground out, earning her first save of the season.
With the win Citrus improves to 9-4 on the season and a perfect 6-0 in Western State Conference play. The Lady Owls will be back at home this weekend as it hosts a double-header with nearby Rio Hondo College. The first game is set for 12:00 PM.
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