Azusa, CA (Softball) – The Citrus College softball program picked up its first win of the 2008 season on Wednesday, but also suffered its second loss, as it played host to Imperial Valley College and Riverside City College Wednesday afternoon and evening. The Lady Owls opened the afternoon up with a 5-2 win over IVC, but closed the night with a disappointing 8-0 loss to the Tigers.
Things got off to a promising start in the first game of the day, as the pitching was adequate and bats timely. After just two hits in Friday’s season opener, the Lady Owls roped six hits and drove in three runs in their 5-2 win.
Freshman Nicole Molina took the circle for the first time for Citrus in their game against IVC, pitching four strong innings, surrendering just four hits and one earned run. Molina proved to be fairly accurate as well, as she threw 68 pitches, 41 of which were strikes.
While Molina took care of the business in the circle, the Citrus offense came out of the gate in a big hurry. After their first two batters were sat down in order, Melanie Hansen started a two out rally with a triple to right center field.
Christina Skelton backed up Hansen’s big hit with a walk, while Denise Hernandez followed that up with a double up the left line, scoring Hansen and moving Skelton to third. After Lauren Pulley reached on an error by Imperial Valley’s second baseman, that scored Skelton and Hernandez, Citrus had a 3-0 lead in just the first inning.
After IVC answered with a lone run in the second, Citrus continued to push their lead in the bottom of the third and fifth innings as they recorded two more security runs by Hansen and Kym Abayan giving Citrus a 5-1 lead. By the time Imperial Valley answered with an unearned run in the top of the 6th it was too little to late as Citrus picked up its first victory of the season.
Molina earned her first win of the season, while Amanda Mays’ three innings of relief work earned her the seasons first save. Hansen would finish the game 2 for 3 with 3 runs, while fellow middle infielder Denise Hernandez also went 2 for 3 with 2 RBI’s.
In the second game against Riverside, the Citrus hitting began to struggle again collecting just 3 hits in 23 at bats. This time however, things were compounded by pour defensive play, as the Lady Owls recorded five errors. Of the eight runs scored by the Tigers, just one was earned.
Brittany Patterson took the ball in the game with Riverside, for her second start of the season for the Lady Owls. Patterson pitched five and two-thirds inning giving up just five hits, and seven runs none of which were earned.
The game would be kept close until the bottom of the sixth when the wheels came off the Citrus defense. As Riverside clung to a 1-0 lead, the Lady Owls proceeded to commit three errors leading to six unearned runs for the Tigers.
Along with their defensive miscues, the Citrus offense struggled. The Lady Owls only reached second base twice. The first runner to reach second was stranded, and the second was picked off trying to do too much with not enough time. With the loss Patterson’s record fall’s to 0-2 in the season, despite giving up just one earned run in her first two starts.
With the win and the loss Citrus’ record moves to 1-2 on the young season. The Lady Owls’ road only gets tougher from here, as they play in one of the toughest tournaments in the state this weekend. Citrus will be playing in the Green and Gold Tournament this weekend, and opening up tournament play with last year’s state championship participant Mt. SAC.