Huntington Beach, CA (Softball) -- The Citrus College Softball team kicked off their 2012 season on Wednesday afternoon. The Owls came back home from the beach with a split, losing to Golden West 5-4 and beating San Diego Mesa 9-5.
In the opening contest against the triangular’s host Golden West, the Owls got things off on the right foot when freshman Audrie Becerra’s leadoff single eventually led to a score in the top of the first. The Rustlers answered though with a score in the bottom of the first and two more in the second to chase Citrus starter freshman Carissa Bender after just an inning and two-thirds work.
Both teams’ bats would be quieted over the next couple of innings, until Citrus got back on track in the fifth with a pair of scores from Becerra and freshman Mercedes Menchaca thanks in large part to errors from Golden West. Unfortunately for Citrus, the Rustlers matched the runs in the bottom of the inning, and after being held scoreless in the sixth went into the top of the seventh trailing 5-3.
The Owls would get a one out score from Menchaca to pull them within a run, but a ground out and strike out ended the threat and game with Citrus falling 5-4. Becerra and freshman Veronica Ramirez went 2 for 4 in the loss, with both Becerra and Menchaca scoring twice. Bender would get charged with the loss, while sophomore Emily Lwin was solid in relief, scattering seven hits and two runs over four and a third innings of work.
The second game of the day saw Citrus get in a hole again. The Owls would be shut out over the first four innings, while San Diego Mesa scored four times in that same span. Things finally changed in the bottom of the fifth when Becerra started things off with another patented leadoff single. After Menchaca doubled, both Menchaca and Becerra scored on the next at bat when Taylor Ward’s single drove the pair in.
The Owls didn’t stop there when freshman Ilyssa Diaz drove in Ramirez. Bender would drive in another run moments later with an RBI groundout that scored sophomore Lauren Vargas, and before it was all said and done the Owls were up 5-4 after an inning that saw five hits, five runs, and two Olympian errors.
Mesa would tie the game up in the top of the sixth inning, but Citrus’ bats continued to pound the Mesa pitching in the bottom of that same inning. Menchaca and Ward started the inning off with back to back singles. The duo would score minutes later thanks to back to back RBI singles from Ramirez and Vargas. A few batters later Diaz drove in a pair of runs, as the Owls went from being tied 5-5 to being up 9-5.
In the top of the seventh Bender who had taken over for Lwin in the third found a bit of trouble but battled. After loading the bases up with two outs, Bender dug deep and struck out the final batter of the game to give Citrus a four run victory.
In the second game, Citrus was led by Ward who went 2 for 2 with 2 runs and 2 RBI’s. Diaz added a 2 for 3 day with 3 RBI’s, while Bender ended up with the win after pitching five strong, giving up three runs (one of which was earned) in improving to 1-1 on the year.
With the split, Citrus’ season starts with a 1-1 record. The Owls will take the remainder of the week off before resuming play at home next Tuesday February 7th. Citrus will take on East LA College, with first pitch set for 2:30 PM.
Box Score vs Golden West
Box Score vs San Diego Mesa