Smith’s RBI Single in Bottom of Eighth Leads Owls to Upset Win Over Canyons

Glendora, CA - Citrus College sophomore Kali Smith stepped up to the plate in the bottom of the eighth inning with the bases loaded and two outs showing on the scoreboard in Thursday's Western State Conference Blue Division match-up with SoCal #8 College of the Canyons. Smith didn't need to look at any pitches, coming up huge for the Owls, with an RBI single to center field on the first pitch she saw, giving Citrus a 3-2 win over the Cougars.

If the first inning was any indication, Thursday's conference tilt looked as if it would be a high scoring affair. Canyons took advantage of a Citrus fielding miscue to plate a run in the top of the first, but the Owls roared back in the bottom of the first when freshman Karissa Martinez hit a one out double to right field, that was immediately followed by a home run by freshman Celine Spathias that made it 2-1.

The scoring slowed down considerably in the ensuing innings. Canyons would tie the game up in the top of the third, but other than that both offenses we're left off the scoreboard between the fourth and seventh innings.

That's not say neither team had opportunities. Canyons would put runners on the corners with two outs in the top of the fifth, but sophomore Autumn Bartholomy got a fly out to right to end the threat. Citrus put together a similar fight in the bottom of the fifth when they loaded the bases with two outs, but that attempt came up shy when the inning ended on a fly ball to center field.

Canyons would put runners in scoring position in each of the sixth, seventh, and eighth, innings, but each time Bartholomy snuffed out the rally attempt. That brought the game into the bottom of the eighth, where Citrus would stage their game winning run thanks to a little help from some Canyons errors.

Spathias would lead the inning off with a single to left, only to be thrown out at second base on the next at bat on a fielder's choice. Two and three at bats later, Bartholomy and freshman Alyssa Rodriguez would load up the bases after back to back errors by the Cougars loaded the bases with one out. The next Owl batter would put the ball in play, but freshman Jade Nua would be thrown out on the force at home, bringing Smith to the plate with the game on the line.

In the win, Spathias was the only Owl with more than one hit, going 2 for 3. Bartholomy (3-7) would get the win in the circle, giving up five hits and just those two runs, only one of which was earned, while striking out a pair.

With the win, Citrus improves to 5-11 overall and 2-2 in WSC Blue play. The Owls will take a break from conference action over the weekend when they travel to State #2 and SoCal #1 Cypress College for a double-header. The first game is scheduled for a 11:00 AM start.