A Lost Chance

Glendora, CA -- With the WSC Blue Division race all but wrapped up, Tuesday's contest with first place and State #15 College of the Canyons had a larger implication on post-season seeding as opposed to conference crowns. Still it was a lost chance for the Owls as they saw a big lead evaporate before their eyes in a 14-12 loss to the Cougars.

Canyons flew out of the gate on Tuesday with a pair of scores in the top of the first inning. Citrus rallied in the bottom half of the inning to take the lead, using a three run home run from freshman Raeleen Tellez (her first of the year) to go up 3-2.

The Owls extended their lead in the third inning and did so thanks to their patience at the plate. Citrus scored six runs in the bottom half of that inning, four off bases loaded walks, one off a bases loaded hit by pitch, and the other on the only RBI hit of the inning when sophomore Angela Aguinaga singled to center fielder.

Citrus continued to draw walks, and put runners on base drawing a total of 17 walks on the game. After scoring those nine runs though, they became harder to come by as Citrus also stranded 13 runners on the bags.

Meanwhile Canyons was slowly working their way back into the game. The Cougars scored twice in the top of the fourth, and then blew the Owls doors off in the top of the sixth with nine runs to take a 13-9 lead. Citrus rallied with three runs in the bottom half of the inning, all thanks to a three run home run from freshman Arianna Sanchez, but that was it. Canyons added an insurance score in the top of the seventh, and the Owls left two more runners on the base paths in the bottom of the seventh to end the game.

With the loss, Citrus falls to 19-12 overall and 11-4 in WSC Blue play. The Owls won't get much time to lick their wounds, as they continue a busy week tomorrow back at Citrus College. The Owls take on Long Beach City with first pitch set for 2:30 PM.