Owls Outwork Rams

Citrus College used a big sixth inning to fuel a 16-12 victory over Victor Valley College Tuesday.

The Owls improve to 7-8 while the Rams drop to 4-8.

Santiago Castro went 2-for-4 with one run, while Chad Green went 2-for-6 with two runs and two RBIs.

Citrus jumped out in front with three runs in the bottom of the second, but Victor Valley tied things up in the top of the third.

The Owls took back the lead in the fourth after a fielder's choice scored Matthew Espinoza from third.

Victor Valley plated two runs in the top of the sixth to take the lead, 5-4, but Citrus came out swinging in the bottom half of the frame. With one out, the Owls loaded the bases and Robert Valdivia tucked a double just inside the left-field line to score two. Green followed in similar fashion, doubling down the line to send two more runs in.

The Rams managed to get a second out, but the Owls loaded the bases once again. Diego Gonzales drew ball four to drive in one run and Espinoza singled up the middle to send two more runners in, 11-5.

Citrus kept rolling and loaded the bases in the seventh with one out and walked in another run, before Hideaki Tanaka sacrificed a fly ball to score Green. Gonzales blasted a base hit past the Ram pitcher, driving in two more runs to put the Owls up 15-5.

Victor Valley made things interesting in the eighth, however, scoring seven runs to cut the deficit to three, 15-12.

Robert Moreno capped the scoring with an RBI single in the eighth, sealing the 16-12 victory.

Aaron Juarez threw a solid five innings with five strikeouts. Joseph Jimenez came in on relief to pick up the win, tossing three strikeouts. Anthony Verrone also pitched and struck out two batters in the final two innings of action.

The Owls return to action on Thursday, hosting Mt. San Jacinto at 2 p.m.