Glendora, CA (Baseball) -- Citrus College sophomore Joseph Garcia’s two out bottom of the ninth walk-off single against San Bernardino Valley gave Citrus a 5-4 win over the Wolverines on Tuesday afternoon. Garcia went 2 for 5 with an RBI, as he lifted Citrus to their 9th win of the season.
After starter James Janclaes gave up a run in the top of the first thanks to a balk. Citrus jumped out early showing patience at the plate and scoring two runs in the bottom of the second with back to back bases loaded RBI walks. After his hiccup in the first, Janclaes cruised through the second, third, and fourth innings striking out two batters and giving up just three hits.
With San Bernardino Valley’s starter Arnulfo Perez struggling with his control, the Wolverines opted to go with Alex Rueda, who was dominate against the Fighting Owls. Rueda pitched seven innings of relief giving up just two hits and striking out three Citrus batters in the process. Rueda did give up two runs to Citrus in the third inning, but neither were credited to him as they both scored due to errors by his defense.
Leading 4-1, Janclaes gave way to Scott McKeen in the top of the fifth, and for the first time this season McKeen struggled. McKeen pitched an inning and a third, surrendering three hits, walking two batters, hitting another and gave up three runs in the fifth (all earned) as the Wolverines knotted the game up at four runs a piece.
After McKeen was chased in the sixth, in came freshman Justin Grijalva who took over the game, and found himself in a dual with Rueda. Grijalva pitched three and a third innings striking out six batters all the while giving up just one hit and walking no one.
In the bottom of the ninth, San Bernardino opted to take out Rueda and bring in Brandon Kinser from left field to pitch the final inning. Kinser walked pinch hitter Scott Stephenson to lead off the inning, and was promptly moved to second when sophomore Angel Marti laid down a text book sacrifice bunt, his third of the season.
With Stephenson on second up came Tyler Bailey who sent a deep fly ball to center field, where San Bernardino Valley center fielder Alec Cortez tracked it all the way to the warning track before hauling it in for the second out of the inning. Needing to cash in Stephenson, up came Garcia who worked the count to 2-2 before lining a pitch right in the right-center field gap for the game winner.
With the win, Citrus improves to 9-3, while San Bernardino Valley falls to 3-10. For his three and a third innings of stellar work, Grijalva earned his first victory of the season. The Fighting Owls will take the next few days off before opening up WSC South play this weekend at LA Pierce College. First pitch is set for 1:00 PM.
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