Glendora, CA - The Citrus Owls pitchers combined for 15 strikeouts on Thursday as they shutout Glendale, 9-0. The win helps the Owls to a 4-1 record in the Western State Conference and a 10-10 mark overall.
Luis Hernandez (2-3) perplexed the Vaqueros for seven innings, allowing just four hits while striking out ten batters. Grant Tripp came in for the final two innings and was perfect, striking out five of the six batters he faced.
The teams battled through 4 ½ scoreless innings, before Citrus broke through in the bottom of the fifth inning. Michael Gonzalez got a one-out single and later scored on a wild pitch as the Owls took advantage of a number of Glendale mistakes to open up the scoring. Later, with two outs, Justin Fellhauer reached on an error, Richie Roseli singled and Matt Ross walked to load the bases. Courtney Montgomery took advantage of a rattled starting pitcher with a two-run single. Francisco Espinoza then hit an RBI single and moved Montgomery to third. Montgomery then stole home before the inning ended, for a 5-0 lead.
Citrus moved on to score two in the sixth and two more in the seventh. Montgomery finished the game hitting 3-for-3 with a triple, two runs and three RBI. Citrus pounded out 16 hits in the game and all but one starter had at least one hit.
The Owls will be back in action on Saturday, weather permitting, traveling to face Glendora in the back end of the home-and-home series. The first pitch is scheduled for 1:00 pm.