Softball Stays Perfect in Conference with 13-7 Win at Bakersfield

No. 13-ranked Citrus College picked up a 13-7 win at Bakersfield College on Tuesday, March 17, improving to 19-7 overall and remaining a perfect 4-0 in conference play. Bakersfield moves to 12-13 overall and 3-1 in conference.

The Owls jumped out to a quick start, taking a 6-0 lead after the first two innings. In the top of the first, RBI singles from Mia Godoy (scoring Alivia Martinez) and Aalijah Aranda (scoring Godoy) made it 2-0. Citrus added four more runs in the second, as Jaelynn Eaves drove in Brooke Whiteman with an RBI single, Godoy followed with a two-RBI single to score Martinez and Grace Twente, and Anaya Burley added an RBI single to bring in Eaves.

Bakersfield responded with four runs in the bottom of the third to cut the lead to 6-4, but Brooke Whiteman extended the Owls' advantage to 8-4 with a two-run home run in the top of the fifth. Jocelyn Escobedo added an RBI single in the sixth to score Godoy, pushing the lead to 9-4.

The Renegades threatened again in the bottom of the sixth, scoring three runs to get within 9-7. However, Citrus pulled away in the top of the seventh. Grace Twente hit a sacrifice fly to score Whiteman, and Jaelynn Eaves launched her team-leading eighth home run of the season—a two-run shot that brought in Alivia Martinez. Escobedo capped the scoring with an RBI double to center field, driving in Anaya Burley.

At the top of the lineup, Alivia Martinez set the tone, going 2-for-4 with three runs scored and two stolen bases. Twente finished 2-for-4 with an RBI, a double, and a sacrifice fly. Eaves went 2-for-4 with a home run and a team-high three RBIs, while Godoy went 3-for-5 with two RBIs and a double. Burley was nearly perfect at the plate, going 4-for-4 with two doubles and an RBI.

Escobedo collected three hits in five at-bats with two RBIs, and Aranda added two hits and an RBI. Whiteman had a standout performance, going 3-for-4 with a home run, a double, two RBIs, and three runs scored. As a team, Citrus totaled six doubles and two home runs, while swiping three bases and striking out just twice.

Citrus will host Los Angeles Mission College for a conference game on Thursday, March 19 at 2 p.m.