Owls Take Eagles to Extra Innings

No. 19-ranked Citrus College battled but came up just short in a 5-4 loss to LA Mission College Tuesday afternoon.

The Owls slip to 13-7 overall and 1-2 in Western State Conference action, while the Eagles improve to 11-7 on the year and remain undefeated in conference play (2-0).

Eight Owls accounted for nine hits in the game, with Leah Morales leading Citrus with a 2-for-4 performance at the plate. Rylee Praytor, Madelyn Hajj, Samantha Meyndert, Desiree Loza, Paige Horvat, Jasani Zavalza and Gwendalyn Rivas also had hits for the Owls.

Citrus struck first with three runs in the bottom of the first, but Mission battled back to take a 4-3 lead in the top of the third. In the bottom half of the inning, Meyndert drove in the tying run as Hajj took advantage of an Eagle error.

Neither team could break through for the next four innings, forcing extra innings. Mission capitalized in the top of the eighth and held on for the win after the Eagles got the tying run out at home to end the game.

The Owls look to shake it off as they host Antelope Valley College on Thursday at 2:30 p.m.