Citrus Cruises Past San Bernardino Valley

Citrus College came up big at the plate to grab a 16-7 victory over San Bernardino Valley College Tuesday afternoon.

The Owls improve to 6-6 on the year with the win. SBVC slips to 1-11.

Roman Robles had a solid performance at the plate, posting three hits, three runs and one RBI. Robert Moreno, Diego Gonzales and Matthew Espinoza each added two hits, two runs and two RBIs for the Owls. Citrus – which had 16 hits in the win – also saw hits from Devon Diaz, Hideaki Tanaka, Santiago Castro, Jin Hattori, Robert Valdivia, Chad Green, and Conner McKinney.

SBVC struck first in the bottom of the first, but the Owls responded with two runs in the top of the second.

Citrus broke the game wide open in the third, plating seven runs on six hits and one error. The Owls loaded the bases with one out and McKinney drew a rogue pitch to the body to advance each runner. The Wolverines got the next force out at the plate, but Moreno singled aboard and Gonzales knocked a base hit to send in one and two runs, respectively.

Once again, Citrus loaded the bases, allowing Diaz to get an RBI single before Castro doubled to send two more runners in.

The Owls tacked on four more runs in the fourth and one run in the fifth, seventh and ninth innings to seal the 16-7 victory.

Aaron Juarez picked up the win on the mound for the Owls, tossing five innings with just one run and striking out four. Joseph Jimenez grabbed a save after he threw 3.1 innings in relief without conceding a run and striking out seven.

Citrus and SBVC face each other again on Thursday, this time on the Owls' turf. The game is scheduled for 2 p.m.