Owls Salvage Split at Canyons

Santa Clarita, CA - In their key early double-header against College of the Canyons in WSC South play, the Owls fell in an early 8-0 hole in Game #1. Shortly after falling behind, the skies opened up, and the game would be postponed until the following Monday. That postponement proved pivotal overall, as the postponement possibly stopped some key Cougar momentum, thus allowing the Owls to salvage a split on Monday afternoon against Canyons. 

 Headed into Monday, the Owls picked up where they left off which was in the top of the fourth inning trailing 8-0. The Owls would try to mount a comeback putting two on in the top of the fourth, and then moving the runners to second and third after a sacrifice by freshman Jacquelyn Preciado. A pair of groundouts thwarted the comeback, and in the top of the fifth the Owls went down in order, giving Canyons a 8-0 five inning win in the opener. 

Despite the disappointing outcome of the first, the Owls were able to put it behind them and turn things around in the second game. Citrus jumped on top of the Cougars in the top of the first, thanks to an RBI double to left by sophomore Celine Spathias and a RBI triple to right by freshman Seanna Jimenez. Canyons would get one of the two runs back in the bottom half of the inning, but Citrus was in business.

The Owls would push their lead back to two runs thanks to an RBI single by Spathias in the top of the third, that plated freshman Valerie Ortiz. Unfazed, Canyons rallied with a three spot to take their first lead of the game 4-3 in the bottom of the fourth. Citrus had a response right away, tying the game up and taking the lead in the top of the fifth after an error by Canyons allowed Jimenez and Spathias to score. 

Sophomore Karissa Martinez would give the Owls some breathing room in the top of the seventh with an RBI triple down the left field line. Citrus didn't end up needing it although, Canyons threatened with back-to-back one-out singles in the bottom of the seventh. Freshman Danielle Dominguez clamped down though and got a fielder's choice groundout and a fly out to right to end the threat. 

In game #2, Spathias finished a perfect 4 for 4 with a pair of runs and a pair of RBIs. Jimenez went 3 for 4 with a run and an RBI, and Dominguez (11-4) got the win, after four scoreless innings. 

With the split, Citrus moves to 14-8 overall and 3-2 in WSC East play. The Owls will be back in action on Tuesday when they travel to Los Angeles Valley College for a WSC South double-header with the Monarchs.