MILLER POWERS SOFTBALL OVER CITRUS, 11-7

SANTA MARIA-- Sophomore first-baseman Nika Miller belted three home runs to lead the Allan Hancock College softball team to an 11-7 Western State Conference win over Citrus on Tuesday.

For Hancock (2-8, 1-1 WSC), the victory not only leveled the conference record, it broke a four-game drought that began Feb. 8. That string included a 5-1 loss to Canyons in the home and conference opener on Feb. 17.

Miller, a graduate of Righetti High School, has participated in nearly every women's sport at AHC. In the current academic year she has played volleyball and basketball. Last year, she was among the state's best track and field throwers, qualifying for the state championship meet in both the shotput and discus.

Miller hit dingers in the second, third and fourth innings and drove in seven runs in the process. After her three-run blast in the fourth, the Citrus pitchers were ordered to give her intentional walks for the remainder of the game. Crystal Garcia went 5 2/3 innings to get the win, Delia Daniels entered a 10-6 game in the sixth and earned the save.

Coach Ed Grose's Bulldog team is scheduled to play a make-up at Glendale tomorrow and at L.A. Mission on Thursday, but both are weather permitting.