Script Flipped
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Citrus | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 9 | 0 |
|
Oxnard | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | X | 4 | 9 | 0 |
Oxnard, CA -- After mounting a pair of comebacks in their first two games of the season, the Citrus College Baseball team had their script flipped on Thursday afternoon when they travelled to Oxnard College. The Owls took a 3-1 lead into the bottom of the eighth, but gave up three runs in what ended up a 4-3 loss.
Citrus opened up Thursday's scoring in the top of the second inning. Sophomore Rodnee Little drove in freshman Jonathan Ayala with a sacrifice fly to right field to make it 1-0. A few moments later, sophomore Shawn Sweeney made it 2-0 when Citrus successfully pulled off a double steal, with freshman Jeremyn "J.P." Hopkins stealing second and Sweeney home.
Sweeney would make it 3-0 with an RBI single in the top of the fifth, a hit that drove in sophomore Troy Resch. The three runs were more than enough for starting pitcher and sophomore Cameron Rodriguez to work with, who was solid in seven innings of work. Rodriguez scattered six hits and three walks in his time on the hill. His only run he gave up came on a wild pitch in the bottom of the seventh. When he left the game he was in line for the win, but had to settle for the no decision.
Up 3-1 headed into the bottom half of the eighth, the Condors rallied. Citrus got a line out to start the inning, but then gave up a single and a walk in back to back at bats. The next Oxnard batter would pop out to second base, before the next batter faced was hit by a pitch loading up the bases. That brought Oxnard's seventh hole hitter to the plate with two outs. The hitter made the best of his moment with a bases clearing double, that put the Condors up by one. In the top of the ninth, the Owls went down in order, with a ground out, a fly out, and another ground out to end the game.
In the loss, Citrus was led at the plate by Ayala who was 3 for 4 with that run scored. Sweeney was 2 for 4 with a run and an RBI, while sophomore Taylor Grace went 2 for 5. With the loss, Citrus drops to 2-1 on the year. The Owls will be back out on the road this Saturday when they travel to Cerritos College for a 12:00 PM first pitch.