Owls Take Series Opener with 6-2 Win Over West LA

Citrus College Baseball opened their conference series against West LA College with a strong 6-2 victory on Tuesday afternoon. 

With the win, the Owls improve to 12-22 overall and 7-9 in conference play. West LA drops to 8-26 on the season and 3-13 in conference action. 

The game started with the Wildcats taking an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first, but Citrus quickly responded. Derek Leader crossed the plate in the bottom half of the inning on a West LA error to even the score at 1-1. 

West LA briefly regained the lead in the second inning, going up 2-1, but the Owls once again battled back. In the bottom of the fifth, Joshua Cortinas scored to tie the game at 2-2 after Chase Bernal reached base and another Wildcat miscue came into play. 

Citrus took control in the sixth. Luke Willison delivered a clutch RBI double to score Nathan Hellein, then Cortinas added a perfectly executed sacrifice bunt to bring Willison home and make it 4-2. 

The Owls added insurance in the eighth inning, with Cortinas ripping an RBI single to plate Danyal Jenkins. Roman Huizar followed with a base hit to score Jordan Quintero, extending the lead to 6-2. 

Willison led the offense, going 2-for-4 with an RBI, a run scored, and a walk. Cortinas had a standout day as well, finishing 1-for-2 with two RBIs, a run, and a walk. Dustin Yela added a 2-for-4 performance, while Quintero and Hellein each went 1-for-4 with a run scored. 

On the mound, Eddie Rocha got the start, pitching five innings and allowing just one earned run while striking out one. Reece Harney (W, 1-1) was lights out in relief, tossing four scoreless innings, striking out five, and allowing only two hits. 

The series continues Thursday, April 17, as the Owls travel to West LA for game two. First pitch is set for 2 p.m.