Rubber Stamped

Glendora, CA -- After splitting the previous two contests this year with Bakersfield College, the Citrus College Baseball team played host to Bakersfield College on Saturday afternoon for the rubber match. The Owls put a rubber stamp on the season series with a 6-3 victory, winning their first conference series of the season.

It took a few innings for the Owls to get going, but once they did, they settled in nicely. Bakersfield put the first run of the game on the scoreboard, scoring a single run in the top of the third. Two innings later, Citrus took their first lead of the game when they posted a four spot in the bottom of the fourth. Sophomore Shawn Sweeney drove in two runs with a single through the right side of the field, only to watch freshman Michael Carlos drive in two with a bunt single that got past the entire Renegade defense two at bats later.

That would be enough for the Owls, though they wouldn't know it at the time thanks to another quality start from sophomore starting pitcher Cameron Rodriguez. Rodriguez would go six total innings, giving up six hits, no walks, three runs, and striking out three. Two of those three runs would come in the top of the sixth inning, when the Renegades cut the lead down to one, but Rodriguez escaped the inning without any other issues and gave way to freshman Chris Ghosn in the seventh and sophomore Nicholas Sergi in the eighth and ninth who slammed the door. Rodriguez would improve to 3-3 on the season, while Sergi nabbed his first save of the year.

Sergi did face a little trouble in the top of the eighth, when he gave up a one out double down the right field line. Sergi got the next batter to strike out swinging, but the fourth batter he faced in the inning would lift a short bloop to right field. Sophomore right fielder Richard Chavez got on his horse and made a game saving diving catch.

Citrus would add two insurance scores in the bottom of the eighth. Sophomore Anthony Virgen drove in Sweeney on an RBI single to center field, while freshman Rudy Casarez III singled in Carlos to make it 6-3.

With the win, Citrus improves to 11-10-1 on the year and 5-4 in WSC South play. The Owls will hit the road on Tuesday when they travel to College of the Canyons for a 2:30 PM showdown.