Owls Drop Road Contest at Canyons

No. 18 in the state, Citrus Softball suffered a 5-3 loss at College of the Canyons on Tuesday, March 31. The Owls move to 22-10 overall and 5-2 in conference play.

After defeating Canyons 7-2 at home on March 5, the Owls managed just three runs on eight hits in Tuesday's loss, as a three-run sixth inning by the Cougars proved to be the difference.

Citrus opened the scoring in the second inning when Jocelyn Escobedo doubled to left field to bring home Anaya Burley for a 1-0 lead.

Canyons answered in the bottom half of the inning with an RBI single to tie the game at 1-1. The Cougars then took a 2-1 lead in the fifth after an Owls error allowed a run to score.

The Owls responded in the sixth inning. Izzy Poveda lifted a sacrifice fly to even the score at 2-2, plating pinch runner Desteny Garcia. Later in the frame, Brooke Whiteman delivered an RBI single up the middle to score Burley and give Citrus a 3-2 advantage.

Canyons ended up taking the lead in the bottom of the sixth inning. A sacrifice fly tied the game before a go-ahead double put the Cougars in front. An RBI single followed to push the lead to 5-3.

Freshman outfielder Anaya Burley paced Citrus offensively, going 3-for-4 with two runs scored. Escobedo added a double and an RBI, while Whiteman and Poveda each drove in a run.

Brissa Ayon (17-7) took the loss in the circle, allowing five runs (four earned) on eight hits over six innings, with one walk and one strikeout.

Citrus totaled eight hits but stranded nine runners on base in the loss.

The Owls will return home to host conference foe Glendale College at 2 p.m. on Thursday, April 2.