Glendora, CA (Baseball) -- The Citrus College baseball team ran into a buzz saw on Tuesday afternoon in the form of the Canyons College baseball team. The Cougars continued their march through the WSC like Sherman marched through the South with another win this time at the behest of Citrus, who come out on the wrong side of a 7-4 game.
With the win, Canyons has won seven straight contests and 11 of their last 12 conference games, a streak that regained life in the latter innings of Tuesday’s contest.
The Fighting Owls recorded the first blow of the day, when sophomore Julio Raymundo came to the plate and launched a two run home-run to the deepest part of the field. That would be all the offense Citrus would muster for the next five innings however, as Canyon’s starter Caleb Deville faced the minimum amount of batters down on through the sixth inning.
While Citrus started quickly, Canyons had the opposite game. Citrus starter Chris Freedman looked good through the first six innings striking out two batters and surrendering no runs along the way. Things turned South quickly in the seventh however, when Freedman led off the inning by giving up two walks and a single.
With the bases loaded Canyons Kirk Corrales came to the plate and scored the first Cougar run of the day with a sacrifice fly to left-center field. Designated hitter (who tortured Citrus going 3 for 5) Tucker Mabee followed that up with a double to right-center that scored yet another run and chased Freedman from the game.
The offensive outpouring didn’t stop there for Canyons though, as Citrus reliever Stephen Chakerian promptly gave up a 2 RBI single up the middle, giving Canyons a 4-2 lead. Citrus showed some signs of life in the bottom of the inning leading off the seventh with three straight hits, including an RBI single to left field off the bat of Kyle Nutter.
That rally proved to be short lived however, as Citrus squandered the opportunity popping up and hitting into a double-play the very next two batters. With Citrus’ chance gone, Canyons added some cushion to their lead in the next inning with a three run home-run off the bat of Kyle Leon. Citrus was never able to recover after that, and suffered just their second home loss of the season.
With the loss, Citrus falls to 17-7 overall and 10-5 in WSC South play, while Canyons improves to 14-10 overall and 11-4 in conference play, grabbing sole possession of first place. The Fighting Owls will have a chance to pull back into a tie with Canyons on Thursday when they travel to take on the Cougars for the final time this season. First pitch is set for 2:30 PM.
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