Glendora, CA (Baseball) – The Citrus College baseball team kicked off its 2008 home slate in high style rattling off 13 hits and scoring 5 unanswered runs in a 5-0 win over San Bernardino Valley College on Tuesday afternoon. Citrus’ pitching made a strong home debut allowing just one runner past second base in the win.
In just his second start as a Fighting Owl, freshman pitcher Frank Moreno picked up right where he left off two weeks ago, by pitching five brilliant innings. Moreno struck out seven batters and only gave up two hits, to pick up his second win of the season.
While Citrus’ pitching was sitting down one batter after another, the Citrus offense proved to be chippy from the start. Freshman center-fielder Will Davis led things off in the bottom of the first with a double to center field. Evelio Ahumada followed that up with a single to left field, putting runners on the corners with no one out. With the next batter in the box, Wolverines pitcher Teddy Martinez was charged with a balk, sending Davis home for the first run of the game.
The Owls would continue to add to their lead in the very next inning, when catcher Vincent Prado led off with a single to left field. Julie Reymundo would follow that up with a sacrifice bunt, and sophomore Javier Lizarraga moved Prado to third with a single to center field. Sophomore second baseman Manny Martinez would pick up one of his two RBI’s on the next play, when he sent a picture perfect bunt up the first base line, that scored Prado giving Citrus a 2-0 lead.
While Citrus was playing efficient baseball in the batters box and on the base paths, the Citrus pitching and defense was holding its own. The Wolverines’ lone threat came in the top of the sixth when they had a runner on third with two outs. Freshman pitcher Chris Freedman took his time, and got Adrian Carmona to ground out to him to end the inning and the threat.
After the Wolverines threatened in the top of the sixth, Citrus put the game away in the bottom of that same inning scoring two runs on RBI’s by Martinez and Davis. The Owls would put their final stamp on the game in the seventh with a final run scored by Sean Guest
In the win, Citrus had four players collect at least two hits, including catcher Vincent Prado who went 3 for 4 with one run scored, and Martinez who went 2 for 4 with two RBI’s.
With the win the Fighting Owls improve to 2-4 on the young season. Citrus will be back at home this Friday as it plays host LA City College. First pitch is set for 2:00 PM.
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