Went to a Baseball Game and Football Game Broke Out

Glendora, CA -- If you were to just pass by the Citrus College Baseball field yesterday evening and looked at the scoreboard, you probably did a double take and then wondered if a football game had broken out instead. In one of the wildest games in program history, the Owls outlasted visiting Ventura College 18-17 in eight innings on Thursday evening.

Things didn't start off well for the Owls, as they gave up four runs in the top of the first inning. Citrus slowly worked their way back into the game with a run in the bottom of the third and two more in the bottom of the fourth, but the Pirates tagged Citrus with six more in the top of the fifth to go up 10-3.

That's when things got interesting. Citrus rallied in a huge way in the bottom of the sixth inning, scoring nine runs to go up 12-10. Ventura didn't shy away though, answering with a seven spot in the top of the seventh to go back up 17-12. In an incredible turn of events Citrus rallied again, scoring six more runs in the bottom of the seventh to go back up 18-17.

With the game well over the three hour mark, and the sun setting in the horizon, Citrus turned the ball over to their seventh pitcher of the day, Luis Saballos who got a 1-2-3 inning in the top of the eighth to secure the save for himself and the win for the Owls after it was called due to darkness.

Sophomore Blake James had a monster day at the plate, going 5 for 6 with five runs driven in. James also scored the winning run in the game. Fellow sophomore Mike Rowland was 3 for 4, while freshman Brandon Benson was 2 for 3 with two runs and three RBI's.

With the win, Citrus improves to 5-3 on the year. The Owls will get much time to rest as they host the second of three straight days of games Friday afternoon against San Diego Mesa College. First pitch is 2:00 PM.