Ouellette Walks It Off for Owls

Glendora, CA -- For eight innings, the Citrus College baseball team controlled the game in their Western State Conference South Division opener against LA Mission College. It all fell apart in the top of the ninth inning though as Citrus blew a three run lead and went into their final three outs needing a big come back. The Owls got just that as sophomore William Ouellette blasted a three run home run to walk it off and give Citrus a 8-6 win over the Eagles.

Citrus and Ouellette got things going from the start of the game, scoring three runs in the bottom of the first inning. Sophomore Mike Rowland got the first RBI of the game despite grounding into a double play to get it. That was followed two batters later by a single from Ouellette that drove in a pair of runs.

The Owls kept it going in the bottom of the second when they applied enough pressure to the Eagle staff and defense to go up 4-0 after freshman Rodnee Little scored on a wild pitch.

With early room to breathe, freshman Marcos Martinez continued to impress for Citrus. He gave up an earned run in the top of the fourth and another unearned run in the top of the fifth, but other than that he was outstanding.

Citrus would another insurance run in the bottom of the eighth inning thanks to a sacrifice fly from freshman Matthew Reynoso that scored Ouellette from third.

Up 5-2, the Owls turned the ball over to sophomore Luis Saballos who has been absolutely nails for the Owls so far this year. It didn't go so well for Saballos this time out though as he gave up a half swing bunt single that squirted up the third base line, and then hit the next batter. After the hit by pitch, Saballos gave up an RBI single, and the Eagles gained all the momentum they needed as they proceeded to take a 6-5 lead over Citrus.

With all the momentum seemingly gone, the Owls picked it back up. The inning started off with a fly out to left field, but that was followed up by single to left from sophomore Warren Fishback. Freshman Brandon Benson followed that up with a walk, which brought Ouellette to the plate with two on and one out. Ouellette watched the first pitch get called a ball, and then smacked the next pitch over the left field fence to give the Owls the dramatic victory.

Ouellette finished the day 3 for 5 with 5 RBI's and two runs scored. Fishback was 2 for 4, while sophomore Blake James was 2 for 5 at the dish.

With the win, Citrus improved to 7-3 on the year and 1-0 in conference play. The Owls will be back out on the diamond on Tuesday when they head to Sylmar to take on LA Mission College on their home field. First pitch is set for 2:00 PM.