PANTHERS GET HOME WIN V CITRUS

Chaffey's softball team avenged a season-opening loss by defeating Citrus College 4-2 at home on Wednesday.  The Panthers, who have won 3 of their last 4, struck first with three consecutive singles in the first inning to take a 1-0 lead. Sophomore catcher Victoria Esparza (2-3 in the game) started the rally with a single to left field and then stole second base. She scored on freshman third baseman Vivian Medinilla's sharp hit to center field, beating the throw to the plate.

The Citrus Owls answered and took a 2-1 lead in the top of the third inning with a walk, a single and a double to plate a pair of runs before freshman lefty Amanda Sera shut down the rally.

In the fourth inning Chaffey responded with a trio of runs. Freshman shortstop Savanah Handley drew a walk and was sacrificed over to second with a bunt by freshman right fielder Delaney Barber (1-2 on the day). With two outs, Esparza delivered a single to center field. Medinilla (2-4 at the plate) followed that with a hard grounder that the shortstop misplayed to plate Handley with the first run of the inning. Sophomore first baseman Hailey Marquez (3-3 with a double) promptly delivered an RBI single to score Esparza and then Sera closed out the scoring with an infield single to score Medinilla.

From there, the Panther pitchers held the Owls scoreless. Sera went the first five innings to pick up the win and freshman righty Brooklyn Fristrom tossed the final two to pick up her first save of the season. Fristrom allowed just one hit and struck out two in relief.

The Panthers are back at home for games on Thursday (Hancock College) and Friday (a doubleheader against Moorpark College).