Owls Win Season Series With Valley For First Time In Five Years

Glendora, CA -- The Citrus College Baseball team wrapped up the season series with their longtime nemesis Los Angeles Valley College on Thursday afternoon. The Owls lost the first game of the year to the Monarchs, but won on Tuesday and then defeated Valley 4-2 on Thursday to take the season series for the first time since 2009.

As they have been prone to do all season long, the Owls did their best damage early in the game. Citrus jumped all over the Monarchs in the bottom of the first inning, and it looked like it would be a long day for Valley early on. Freshman Taylor Grace drove in the game's first two runs with a double to left-center that brought in sophomore Matthew Reynoso and freshman Aaron Torres. Two at bats later, freshman Brendan Campbell picked up an RBI with a sacrifice fly to center field that plated Grace.

The hits didn't come as easily after that for Citrus. The Owls were held to just one run, five hits, and no walks the rest of the way. Their fourth run would come in the bottom of the when freshman Brett Shewmaker singled to right field, to drive in sophomore Michael Bradley and make it 4-0.

As it would turn out Citrus would need much more than that first inning. Freshman Nicholas Sergi, continued his brilliant first year campaign with seven and a third innings worth of work, scattering six hits, and a walk, with a strikeout. Sergi gave up just two total runs, only one of which was earned, and both were late in the game, one in the seventh and one in the eighth. An out after Sergi left the game, freshman Conlan McKenzie came in and got the final four outs, picking up his third save of the season, giving up no hits, no walks, no runs, and striking out two of the four batters he faced.

With the win, Citrus improves to 18-12 overall and 11-6 in WSC South action. The win helps Citrus keep pace with the rest of the front runners in conference play. The Owls remain tied for third place with their Friday opponent, Glendale College. First pitch will take place at 2:30 PM at Glendale.