San Jacinto, CA (Baseball) -- Thus far this season for the Citrus College Baseball team, it had been the pitching carrying the Owls’ offense. Tuesday’s game at Mt. San Jacinto College was a role reversal for the Owls though as the offense exploded 15 hits, only to see their pitching give up a pair of late runs in their 7-5 loss.
Citrus got things rolling in the top of the second when back to back leadoff walks by freshman Mike Rowland and sophomore Remington Miller led to a pair of scores. Sophomore Ricky Mount drove in Rowland with an RBI double, and a batter later freshman Michael Hernandez drove in Miller to give the Owls a 2-0 lead.
Mt. San Jacinto answered with a run in the bottom of the inning, but Citrus added two more in the top of the third to go up 4-1. Sophomore Shane Fraijo sent a solo shot over the San Jacinto College fence, and Hernandez hit another RBI single that scored sophomore Nick Oddo.
The Owls kept things going in the top of the fourth when sophomore Robert Wiley singled home freshman William Oullette after a single and steal of second base. Things began to unravel though in the bottom of that inning when Mt. San Jacinto put up a four spot to knot things up at five runs apiece.
Citrus’ offense was shut down over the next couple of innings, while the Eagles’ bats came alive in the bottom of the seventh. Mt. San Jacinto squeezed out two more runs to go up 7-5. The Owls’ best chance of a comeback came and went in the top of the eight when they loaded up the bases with no outs. Nothing came of it though, as they Owls popped it up twice and then grounded out into a fielder’s choice, before going down quietly in the ninth.
In the loss, Citrus was led by Mount and Wiley. Mount was 2 for 4, while Wiley went 3 for 5. With the loss, Citrus falls to 1-3 on the year. The Owls will be back at home on Thursday when they play host to San Bernardino Valley College (1-1-1). First pitch is set for 2:00 PM.
Box Score