Owls Roll Past Imperial Valley, Shut Out Rio Hondo

Citrus College Baseball won its last two games to improve to 4-2 overall, defeating Imperial Valley College 10-2 on Friday, Jan. 30, before shutting out Rio Hondo College 8-0 on Tuesday, Feb. 4.

In last Friday's win over Imperial Valley, the Owls put up runs early and never looked back, scoring twice in the first inning and adding three more in the second to build a 5-0 lead. Julian Hines drove in the game's first run with a sacrifice fly, and Cole West followed with an RBI single in the opening frame. Matt Kaneshiro highlighted the second inning with a two-run triple, and Derek Almeda added a sacrifice fly to push the advantage to five.

Joe Gilkeson continued the offense in the third inning with an RBI double and later stole home during a double steal to make it 7-0. Gilkeson added a solo home run in the fifth, then scored again in the seventh as Citrus plated two more runs on a double play and a wild pitch.

Imperial Valley scored single runs in the sixth and ninth innings, but Citrus closed out the game with a 10-2 victory.

Citrus scored 10 runs on 10 hits, led by Kaneshiro, who went 1 for 4 with a triple, two RBIs and two runs scored. Gilkeson added a double and a home run, driving in two runs and scoring twice, while Almeda doubled and drove in a run. Hines and West each recorded an RBI, and Citrus finished with seven RBIs overall. On the bases, Dominic Torrez, Gilkeson and Azael Hernandez each stole a base. Defensively, the Owls turned multiple double plays, including two involving Almeda, Hines and Hernandez, and committed no errors on the day.

Michael Moses earned the win after allowing one run on seven hits over six innings, striking out two without issuing a walk. Matthew Martinez tossed two scoreless innings with two strikeouts, and Gage Wiese worked the ninth, allowing one run on a solo home run.

In Tuesday's 8-0 shutout win over Rio Hondo, starter Tim Hudson struck out eight in 5 2/3 scoreless innings, and right fielder Joe Gilkeson drove in three runs. Hudson allowed just two hits and two walks to pick up the win and anchor a four-pitcher combined shutout.

Citrus took control in the first inning when first baseman Cam Casado and left fielder Jordan Daniels each drove in a run to make it 2-0. Gilkeson broke the game open in the third with a two-run home run, then added an RBI double in the fifth as the Owls extended the lead. Relievers Julian Hines, Beau Lloyd and Marcus Reese combined for 3 1/3 scoreless innings, surrendering just two hits to close out the shutout.

The Owls were led by Gilkeson, who went 3 for 5 with two doubles, a home run and three RBIs. Almeda added a double and drove in a run, while Casado and Daniels each chipped in an RBI. Daniels also scored twice, finishing 2 for 4 with a walk. Garrett Patterson doubled and scored, and Citrus drew four walks while striking out five times. The Owls finished with six RBIs overall and left seven runners on base.

The Owls will travel to San Diego City College for a 1 p.m. matchup with the Knights on Saturday, Feb. 7.