No. 15 Citrus College Rolls Past Pasadena on Sophomore Day, 8-2

No. 15 ranked Citrus College Softball celebrated Sophomore Day in style, notching a convincing 8-2 win over Pasadena City College on Tuesday afternoon. 

With the win, the Owls improve to 23-15 overall and 10-2 in conference play. The Lancers drop to 5-30 on the season and 5-19 in conference. 

Citrus struck early, taking a 3-0 lead in the third inning. Jaelynn Eaves delivered a two-RBI triple, scoring Sofia Femath and Alivia Martinez. Moments later, Madelyn Hajj drove in Eaves with a single to cap the inning. 

Pasadena got on the board in the fourth, but the Owls answered right back with a three-run surge of their own in the bottom half. Bailey Aguilar singled home Ava Camarena, followed by an RBI single from Femath. Eaves then doubled in two more runs—Femath and Martinez—bringing her season RBI total to 40, which ranks fourth in the conference. 

Caitlin Kelley extended the lead in the fifth, ripping a double to right-center that plated Tatyanna Campos and made it 8-1. The Lancers scratched across one more run in the seventh, but it was not enough to overcome the Owls' offensive firepower. 

Eaves led the way, going 3-for-4 with four RBIs and a run scored. Hajj added a 3-for-4 performance with an RBI, and Martinez also went 3-for-4, stealing four bases to bring her season total to 41—tops in the conference and second in the state. Femath contributed a 2-for-4 outing with two runs and an RBI, while Rylee Praytor went 2-for-4. Aguilar chipped in with an RBI and a run, and Campos added a run, a stolen base, and walk. Camarena scored once and went 1-for-4. 

Defensively, Adriana "Adri" Bonilla made a highlight-reel play, throwing out a runner at the plate from left field to prevent a run and end the top of the top of the fourth inning. 

Kelley (W, 17-11) earned the win in the circle, tossing six strong innings with five strikeouts and just one earned run. Serena Rodriguez came in to record two outs in the top of the seventh inning, allowing just one hit. 

The Owls close out the regular season tomorrow with a doubleheader against Cuesta College at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.