Getting It Going Late

Glendora, CA -- It took awhile, but once the Citrus College Baseball team got things going, it piled on the runs. The Owls, newly ranked #20 in SoCal, scored seven of their 12 runs from the fifth inning on, in their 12-4 win over Bakersfield College in both teams' WSC South opener. 

Bakersfield looked the more ready of the two teams out of the gate on Tuesday afternoon. The Renegades scored a pair of runs in the top of the first inning to take a 2-0 lead. The Renegades added a run to their lead with a score via an Owl error in the top of the fourth, going up 3-0. Citrus meanwhile was left looking helpless early on, with just two base runners in the first two innings, one of which was erased on a double-play.

The Owls bided their time though and came through in a big way in the bottom of the fourth. Citrus exploded with a five spot to take the lead and never give it back the rest of the afternoon. Sophomore Shawn Sweeney got the ball rolling with an RBI single to center field. Two at bats later freshman Michael Carlos drove in a run via an infield single to the left side of the field. A few pitches later, sophomore Aaron Torres drew a bases loaded RBI walk, and sophomore Mark Segat had the innings final blow with a two-RBI with a single to right-center field.

Citrus kept the scoring going with three more in the fifth. Sweeney struck again, this time with an RBI double to left field, while freshman Rudy Casarez III drove in Sweeney a few AB's later with a sacrifice fly to center field. Sophomore Anthony Virgen score the third run of the inning taking advantage of a failed pick-off attempt of him at second base. 

The Renegades tried to claw their way back in it with a run in the top of the sixth, but the Owls score one in the bottom of the sixth, and three more in the eighth to secure the win.

Sophomore starting pitcher Nicholas Sergi would improve to 4-0 on the year after his quality start. Sergi went seven inning giving up just four runs (three earned) on five hits and two walks, striking out a trio of Renegades in the process. Sophomore Conlan McKenzie looked sharp in his one inning of work, closing out the top of the ninth by setting down Bakersfield in order and fanning two of the three batters he faced.

At the plate, Sweeney paced the Owls going 3 for 5. Sophomore Troy Resch was 2 for 3, while sophomore Taylor Grace was 2 for 5.

With the win, Citrus improves to 7-6-1 overall and 1-0 in conference play. The Owls will be back home on Friday when they host College of the Canyons at 2:00 PM.