Glendora, CA (Baseball) -- Freshman catcher Nicholas Bergara went two for four and drove in the go ahead run in the bottom of the seventh inning in Citrus College’s 4-3 win over East Los Angeles College. #19 Citrus was out-hit 9-7, but East LA committed three errors and the Fighting Owls were error free as Citrus picked up their seventh win of the season.
The Huskies would open up the contest by getting a run in the top of the first inning. Citrus answered in the bottom of the same inning, when Angel Marti led things off with a solo shot over the right field fence. With the game all knotted up at 1-1, ELAC pulled ahead 3-1 in the third when Chris Machado launched a two run home-run over the center field fence.
Trailing by two runs, Citrus added a score in the bottom of the third, when Kyle Nutter’s RBI single to right scored Luis Zeledon from second base. The Fighting Owls final two scores would come in the bottom of the seventh inning.
Marti would kick things off in the seventh with a one out double to left field, and would advance to third one batter later on a passed ball. With Marti standing on third, Zeledon was unable to cash him in as he grounded out the third baseman, and the next batter, Joseph Garcia, was hit by pitcher Daniel Vargas putting runners on the corners with Nutter coming to the plate and two outs.
Nutter would put the ball in play, but ELAC third baseman Arnold Banuelos misplayed the ball, scoring Marti from third and leaving Nutter and Garcia safe on second and third base respectively. That’s when Bergara came to the plate and laced a hit the bounced in front of the short-stop and over his head for a single into center field scoring Garcia from second and giving Citrus their winning run.
While the Citrus offense took care of business at the plate, the Fighting Owls pitching continued to show its worth. While they weren’t over powering they gave the team a chance to win. Starter Nathan Rollon went four and a third, giving up three runs, but striking out four batters in the process.
Middle relievers Justin Grijalva and Matthew Hart combined to pitch two innings giving up just two hits and striking out three batters, while Justin Areceneaux came in and put the hammer down. Areceneaux pitched two and a third innings, striking out three batters, surrendering no hits and walking just two batters (one intentionally). Areceneaux was also credited with his second win of the season.
With the win, Citrus improves to 7-3 overall while East LA drops to 4-7. The Fighting Owls will be right back after it tomorrow afternoon as they play host to Oxnard College (5-3). First pitch is set for 2:00 PM.
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