Got One, Dropped One

San Jacinto, CA -- The Citrus College Baseball team went on the road on Saturday to finish up their initial contest with Mt. San Jacinto College from Thursday and then to play the Eagles at their place in their originally scheduled time for Saturday. The Owls dropped the first one 7-4, but got one with a 9-7 win.

Things started off on Thursday at home when Citrus spotted Mt. San Jacinto a 2-0 lead after the top of the first inning. The Owls got one back in the bottom half of the first with a RBI single by sophomore Anthony Virgen, before tying the game up at two all in the bottom of the second when freshman Jonathan Ayala was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded.

The Owls would briefly take the lead when Virgen lined out to third base on a screamer and the Mt. San Jacinto third baseman tried to double-up the Owls. The throw was wild though, and freshman Michael Carlos scored to make it 3-2.   

Mt. San Jacinto had an answer, and a big one right after that. The Eagles dropped four runs on the Owls in the top of the fifth inning to go back on top 7-3. Carlos would double on Saturday in the bottom of the ninth inning scoring freshman Joseph Morreale, but the game would end with the loss for Citrus, as they stranded 16 total batters in the loss.

Good thing for Citrus, is they didn't let the loss last long in their minds. The Owls fell behind early when Mt. San Jacinto took a 2-0 lead after one. The Owls quickly went back on top thanks to a score on a wild pitch by Virgen in the top of the second and a two RBI double off the bat of sophomore Aaron Torres a few moments later.

In the top of the fourth, Citrus used an error, and wild pitch to help lead to a six run inning. Carlos would score on the opening error, before Torres would score on a wild pitch. Sophomore Taylor Grace would steal home on a double steal a few pitches later, while an RBI triple by freshman Ryan Aguilar, a groundout RBI by freshman Jeremyn "J.P." Hopkins, and a RBI single by Carlos gave the Owls the 9-2 cushion.

Citrus would nearly need all of it, as Mt. San Jacinto scored a run in each of the fourth and fifth innings, and two more in the seventh. The Eagles made it a two run game in the bottom of the eighth with another score, but in the ninth sophomore Conlan McKenzie picked up his second save of the young season giving up one hit, no walks, no runs, and striking out one with a strong ninth.

Sophomore Cameron Rodriguez (1-0) earned his first win of the year, going six and two-thirds innings. Grace, Aguilar, and Carlos all had good days at the plate with each picking up a pair of hits.

With the win and the loss, Citrus moves to 4-3 on the young season. The Owls will be back home on Tuesday when they host Ventura College for a 2:00 PM tilt.