Baseball Snaps Four Game Slide

Santa Clarita, CA -- The Citrus College Baseball team snapped a four game slide on Saturday afternoon at College of the Canyons. The Owls used a four run sixth innings, to come from behind and defeat the Cougars 7-6.

The Owls briefly took the lead in the top of the first inning when sophomore Blake James doubled home Nathan Virgen. Canyons answered in the bottom of the inning though knotting the game up at 1-1. The Owls went back up in the top of the fifth when Mike Rowland squared up a double to left field that scored freshman Jayson De La Pena. Again though, the Cougars answered as they scored a pair in the bottom of the inning to go up 3-2.

Citrus kept their momentum though, and used the big sixth inning to go back on top. Freshman Rodnee Little got it started with a RBI single to left. Jauregui kept it going with a sacrifice fly to center, only to see Rowland lace another double two at bats later, driving in two and putting Citrus up 6-3.

Canyons would score once more in the bottom of the sixth, but freshman Joshua Page added onto the Owl lead with a solo shot in the top of the eighth to give the Owls some breathing room, something that would come in handy. The Cougars scored twice more in the bottom of the eighth, before finally being shut down in the bottom of the ninth to secure the Citrus win.

Sophomore Oscar Gomez scored the win on the hill for the Owls. Gomez went five innings giving up three runs and striking out a pair. Freshman Jorge Zepeda notched his first save of the season pitching a flawless one and one third innings over the end of the eight and the full ninth inning.

At the plate, Virgen continue his hot play as of late going 3 for 5. James was also 3 for 5, while Little was 2 for 4.

With the win, Citrus improves to 9-8 on the year and 3-4 in WSC South play. Citrus will be back at home on Tuesday when they host College of the Canyons. First pitch is set for 2:00 PM.