Staff Steps Up in Win Over AVC

Glendora, CA - The Citrus College Baseball team played their conference home opener on Saturday afternoon when they hosted Antelope Valley College. The Owls got a complete pitching staff effort in a 2-1 win, as freshman Peter Eitapence, sophomore Aaron Bernal, and freshman Daniel Guerrero combined to give up just six hits, one walk, one hit batsman, and one unearned run. 

 Eitapence would once again get the call for the Owls, and proceeded to mow down the Marauders hitters. Eitapence gave up a game opening single and then didn't allow another base runner or give up another hit the rest of his three innings of work, striking out three batters in the process. 

Eitapence's work on the mound helped out the Citrus offense which was uncharacteristically quiet on the afternoon. The Owls also only had six hits, but they did manage a pair of runs and did so in the bottom of the third. Sophomore Jacob Gafford would get the ball rolling with a RBI single to left field that brought in sophomore Jordan Achay. Gafford would go on to score a few plays later on a wild pitch to stake the Owls to a 2-0 lead. 

In the fourth inning, Eitapence gave way to Bernal who picked up right where Peter left off. Bernal pitched 5.1 innings, scattering five hits, giving up just the one unearned run, and striking out three more batters in the process. Bernal would pitch into the ninth where he gave up a leadoff single, and was then pulled after a sacrifice bunt put a runner in scoring position with one out. 

Manager Steve Gomez would head to the bullpen for just the second time in the game bringing in Guerrero. Guerrero struggled to get settled in, allowing a walk and then hitting the next batter to load up the bases with just the one out. Guerrero settled down though and got a shallow fly out to right field, and then struck out the final batter of the game to get his second save of the year. 

With the win, Citrus improves to 10-7-1 on the season and 2-0 in WSC East play. The Owls will take a brief break from conference action on Sunday to play a make-up contest at Ventura College with first pitch set for 1:00 PM.