Lancaster, CA (Softball) -- The Citrus College softball teams playoff aspirations got off to a rocky start on Saturday, when Antelope Valley's Gracie Perez through five near perfect innings, giving up just one hit and striking out six batters, as Citrus lost 9-0.
It would take the Lady Owls five innings to earn their one hit, when sophomore Amanda Mays sent a single to left-field. While it took Citrus five, it took Antelope Valley just one inning to pick up a hit, and two to get a run.
After taking a 1-0 lead in the second inning the Marauders jumped all over Citrus pitcher Brittany Patterson in the third, as they hit four straight singles to start off the inning. Antelope Valley chased Patterson, after just two and a third innings pitched. Patterson's final line would read six hits, five runs (four earned), four walks, and just two strike-outs.
After Patterson left in the second, sophomore Alex Arguelles came in relief, and fared better, but still had trouble. With Antelope Valley holding a safe 6-0 lead in the third, catcher Shannon Bailey hit a two-out three-run home-run, that would put the Marauders up 9-0.
With the loss Citrus' record falls to 28-17 overall, while Antelope Valley improves to 39-8. AVC pitcher Gracie Perez runs her record to 20-5, while Patterson's goes to 15-15. The two teams will face-off on Sunday at noon. If Citrus wins, the two teams will play later on at 2:00 PM, with the winner of the best two out of three series advancing to the super regional round.
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