Glendora, CA (Baseball) -- After getting knocked down repeatedly over the past two weeks, the Citrus College baseball team (ranked #16 in Southern California), finally got up and answered the bell on Tuesday afternoon. Citrus snapped a six game skid, but scoring eight runs in the bottom of the third to take an important 9-7 victory over visiting LA Mission College.
Tuesday afternoon started just like the last two weeks have gone for Citrus, as Mission jumped out to a commanding 5-0 lead after three innings. All five of the Eagles run came with two outs on the board, as they chased the Fighting Owls’ ace Timothy Pomierski after three short innings.
Staring a big hole, the Citrus offense got things going in the bottom of the third, when Scott Vincent hit a two-out, two RBI single to centerfield that got the Fighting Owls on the board. They didn’t stop their however as Joseph Garcia followed up Vincent’s single with a two RBI double to right-center drawing Citrus to within a run.
With the bases cleared, Citrus went right back to work and loaded them right back up, tying the game up when Vincent Prado was hit by a pitch that scored Garcia. The very next batter, Adrian Cota, strolled to the plate and laced a double to right-center, clearing the bases and giving Citrus a comfortable 8-5 lead.
With the lead in hand, Citrus turned the ball over to Jesus Sanchez who was solid in four innings of work giving up just four hits, striking out three batters, and walking just one player in his time on the mound.
Sanchez’s lone slip-up would come in the top of the sixth inning, when with two-outs, he gave up a two-run bomb over the left-field fence that drew the Eagles to within one run. In the bottom of the inning Citrus’ Julio Raymundo earned back half of that home-run with a solo shot to the deepest part of the field, giving Citrus back a two run advantage.
Clinging to a two-run lead, Citrus turned the ball over to Aaron Ilharreguy who had struggled recently. Ilharreguy showed no such signs on Tuesday, pitching a masterful two innings, striking out two batters, walking just one, and giving up no hits on his way to his third save of the season.
With the win, Citrus improves to 22-14 overall and 15-9 in conference play, while Mission falls to 18-19 overall and 13-11.
With four games remaining Citrus still holds the inside track to the second place finish in the conference and a playoff berth. With Tuesday’s win, Citrus moved to a two game lead over Mission, and kept its one game distance over LA Pierce. Citrus still isn’t completely out of the title hunt either, sitting just two games back of Canyons College.
Citrus will host its final home game of the season on Thursday afternoon. The Fighting Owls play host to West LA College with the first pitch scheduled for 2:30 PM.
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