Glendora, CA (Baseball) -- After starting off a blazing 5-0 and averaging 13 runs a game, the Citrus College baseball team finally met its match on Wednesday afternoon as they were held to just three runs in a 3-6 loss to Mt. San Jacinto. It was the first loss for Citrus this season.
Citrus would open up the game on the right note, picking up a run in the bottom of the first when Kyle Nutter sent a single through the left side of the field scoring Luis Zeledon from second base. San Jacinto would answer in the very next inning when Randy Bruce’s ground out to first scored Chris Houston from third.
The two teams would stay knotted up at one run a piece until the Eagles broke things open in the top of the fifth. With the bases loaded and two outs, San Jacinto got a run when Citrus was called on a catcher’s interference that scored Travis Hansen from third. The very next batter Garret Caldwell came up and singled to center field scoring to more Eagles and giving them a 4-1 lead.
Citrus would scratch out a run in the bottom of the sixth off a Nutter sacrifice fly to right field, but San Jacinto added insurance runs in the eighth and ninth as the Fighting Owls fell for the first time this season.
Nutter would account for all three of Citrus’ runs as went 2 for 3 with 3 RBI’s. Citrus’ Nathan Rollon was credited with his first loss of the season despite a strong outing. Rollon pitched seven strong, giving up eight hits, four runs (one earned) and striking out six batters along the way.
With the loss, Citrus falls to 5-1 on the season, while Mt. San Jacinto improves to 3-2. The Fighting Owls will hit the road this weekend to participate in the Allan Hancock Tournament. Citrus opens up the tournament by playing Allan Hancock on Friday, before taking on Cuesta on Saturday.
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