Baseball Ties SoCal #18 Oxnard in Season Opener

Oxnard, CA - The Citrus College Baseball team opened up their 2017 season on Friday afternoon when they travelled to pre-season #18 Oxnard College. The Owls rallied from an early 4-1 hole to take a 5-4 lead in the top of the seventh. Unfortunately Citrus couldn't hang on as the Condors rallied in the bottom of the ninth, forcing extra innings, before the two teams were forced to settle for a 5-5 tie thanks to impending darkness.

The Owls threw the game's first run up on the scoreboard when three-straight one-out singles by sophomore Marcos Campos, sophomore Kyosuke Ushimaru, and freshman Kristian Scott. On the third single by Scott, the Oxnard center fielder misplayed the ball on the bounce, giving Campos time to score from third.

The lead was short lived as Oxnard scored three runs in the bottom of the first and then another in the bottom of the third to go on top 4-1. In the top of the fourth, Citrus' offense found some rhythm again, when sophomore Jordan Achay belted a two RBI single that plated freshman Benjamin Aguilera and sophomore Dominic Baca.

Trailing 3-4, Citrus regained the lead in the top of the seventh. Ushimaru went to lay down a sacrifice bunt with freshman Donovan Curiel and Campos and second and first. The Oxnard third baseman threw the ball away trying to get Ushimaru at first and the ball sailed wide, allowing both Curiel and Campos to score. In the bottom of the ninth the Owls gave up the game tying run, and in the 10th neither team could find a way to go back in front.

In the tie, Citrus was paced by Campos' 3 for 5 effort, with a pair of runs scored. Aguilera was 2 for 4 with a run in his college debut. On the mound, sophomore starter Roberto Baldanebro went six innings, giving up four of the game's five runs, with a pair of K's. Freshman Matthew Rubalcava-Sanchez was strong in his relief effort, giving up no runs, walks, or hits, while striking out three batters in his two innings worth of work.

The Owls will be back in action on Tuesday when they travel to Cerritos College for a 2:00 PM start.