Owls prey on Wolverines, win close-fought game

Citrus squared up against San Bernardino Valley College Tuesday, March 2, winning 5-4 with the home field advantage.

San Bernardino struck first blood early in the first inning of the game.

“We didn’t perform as well as we are capable,” said third baseman Joseph Garcia, who made the game winning base hit.

Coaches and players alike agree that Citrus did not produce great batting results most of the game. Good pitching is what kept the score close.

“This is the first time we played a team three times that was outside of our conference,” head coach Steve Gomez said.

Coach Gomez said he thought Citrus played at San Bernardino’s level, a team that has not done well this season, with a record of 3-10, as opposed to Citrus’s record of 9-3.

With a final score of 5-4, a close game follows a not-so-close record standing.

By record, Citrus College is a better baseball team than San Bernardino Valley.

After being shut down at the end of the first inning, Citrus came back at the bottom of the second inning, first tying, then taking their first lead in the game,  2-1.

This series drastically shifted the energy of the game, in Citrus’ favor.

The Owls carried that energy into the third inning shutting out San Bernardino’s batting series, and having a huge series of their own getting two home runs and bringing the score to 4-1 Citrus.

The Owls kept the energy up until the fifth inning when San Bernardino had a come back of their own.

 With full runners up on multiple plays, even taking a couple outs, the Wolverines  were able to shift the game’s momentum in their direction, tying the game 4-4.

The two teams were neck and neck in the following innings, with neither team putting any points on the board.

This led to a nail-biting eighth inning as the Owls and the Wolverines battled for the last game-winning runs, predominantly through their pitching in the ending series.

With the game still tied at 4-4 leading into the ninth inning, both teams were ready to take home the victory they both worked for.

With their last series at bat in the game, the Wolverines fought hard to put a run on the board to clinch the victory.

But Citrus fought back, unwilling to give up, as the Owls’ pitching consecutively shut out San Bernardino’s chances in their batting series.

With two strikeouts, the remaining plays in the game were made by pitcher Justin Grijalva, who came into the game midway through the sixth inning.

The last few plays ensured Citrus’ last hope for victory in the game, still tied at 4-4, as this inning would be the difference between a win and a tie.

 Infielder Angel Marti was first up to bat, and made it to first base with a bunt.

Marti then made it to third base off of an out made in the next play after.

Then, infielder Joseph Garcia came to bat, after two balls, two strikes, and with two outs already on the board. Garcia hit a line drive into centerfield, wide open with no one to catch it, bringing home Marti for the game-winning home run, finishing the game at 5-4.

Citus will be facing L.A. Pierce in an away game at 1 p.m. on March 6.