Owls Avenge Worst Loss of Season With Win at #12 Ventura

Ventura, CA - Earlier this season, the Citrus College Baseball team played host to Ventura College and the Pirates ambushed the Owls handing them their worst loss of the year 10-2. The Owls avenged that on Saturday afternoon when they defeated SoCal #12 Ventura 2-1. 

 Citrus was able to find the offense they needed on the afternoon, but they just didn't cash in. Citrus outhit the Pirates by five, but the Owls stranded nine base runners on the day. The real story of the game though was the Citrus pitching staff which cobbled together nine innings where they gave up just three total hits and issued just two walks, while holding Ventura to a single run. 

The game's first run would come in the top of the second inning, and it was by virtue of any offense. After sophomore Ryan Aguilar started off the inning with a double, freshman Steven Mendoza moved him over to third on a groundout. Aguilar would get stuck on third after a short fly ball to center field, but Aguilar would score shortly thereafter via a balk by the Pirate pitcher.

Ventura would tie the game up in the bottom of the third, but that was the last score for them the rest of the way. Citrus meanwhile wouldn't be able to pull back ahead until a two-out rally in the top of the seventh. Freshman Hiroshi Ishiwatari got the ball rolling with a single, followed by a single off the bat of sophomore Michael Carlos. Sophomore Rudy Casarez III would back that up with a third straight single, one deep enough to plate Ishiwatari from third putting Citrus up 2-1. 

Sophomore Chris Ghosn would earn the victory, his first of the season, giving up just two hits, the one run, two walks, and striking out seven batters. The only blemish for Ghosn on the afternoon was the three batters he hit. Freshman Roberto Baldanebro meanwhile earned the save, pitching the final two innings and getting five of the final six outs via strikeout. 

With the win, Citrus improves to 7-4-1 overall. The Owls will back at home this Tuesday when they host Pasadena City College at 2:00 PM.