Owls Secure First Win of the Year

Owls Secure First Win of the Year

Citrus College had to dig deep but grabbed its first win of the young year with a walk-off squeeze to secure the 9-8 victory over East LA Saturday.

The Owls improve to 1-1 on the year, while the Huskies are sent home still looking for their first win of the year.

East LA scored first, but Citrus exploded in the bottom of the third to jump in front 8-2. Devon Diaz got things going with a base hit to center and was joined on base by Robert Valdivia (walk). Robert Moreno loaded the bases with a rogue pitch to the body and a fielder's choice botch scored Diaz from third.

The Huskies made a pitching change and got the first out of the game, but Conner McKinney stepped into the batter's box and blasted a grand slam to put the Owls up 5-2.

Nicholas Santiago kept things going with a single to center and came home on another Huskie error, 6-2. In his second trip to the plate in the inning, Diaz bunted to score Diego Gonzales, before a wild pitch put Citrus up 8-2.

The Huskies tied things up with a run in the top of fourth and five more in the sixth, but the Owls came up big in their last chance at the plate.

In the bottom of the ninth, Christian Barajas took over the baserunning after Santiago was hit by a pitch. A sacrifice bunt pushed Barajas to second before he reached third on a passed ball. Roman Robles came in as a pinch hitter and laid down a perfect bunt as Barajas turned on the jets to score the game-winner.

Anthony Verrone picked up the win on the mound.

The Owls hit the road for the first time, heading to Mt. San Jacinto on Tuesday for a 2:00 p.m. game.