Baseball Sweeps Mt. SAC Behind 28 Runs Across Two Games

No. 22-ranked Citrus College Baseball earned the 2-0 series sweep over Mt. San Antonio College, picking up a 14-1 win at Mt. SAC in Game 1 on Tuesday, March 19, before defeating the Mounties 14-11 at home on Thursday, March 19.

The two non-conference wins improve the Owls to 16-8 overall while they remain 3-3 in conference games.

In Game 1 at Mt. SAC, the Owls jumped out early, scoring twice in the first inning on an RBI groundout from Cam Casado and an RBI single by Jackson Gray to take a 2-0 lead. Mt. SAC answered with an unearned run in the bottom half, but that would be its only run of the game. Citrus broke things open in the second inning. Nick Velazquez led off with a solo home run, his second of the season, before Derek Almeda delivered a two-RBI double. Jordan Daniels followed with an RBI single to extend the lead to 6-1.

The Owls continued to add on in the third, pushing the advantage to 9-1 behind an RBI groundout from Garrett Patterson and a sacrifice fly from Almeda that brought in Cole West and Julian Hines.

Citrus tacked on runs late, with Julian Hines driving in a run on a triple, his first of the season, in the seventh before West added a sacrifice fly to bring him in. Beau Lloyd contributed a sacrifice fly in the eighth, and West capped the scoring with a solo home run, his team-leading fourth of the season, in the ninth. Gray followed with an RBI single to seal the 14-1 victory.

Citrus finished with 21 hits, led by West, Daniels and Gray, who each recorded four hits. West added a home run, double and three runs scored, while Almeda drove in a game-high four runs.

On the mound, Tim Hudson (W, 5-1) was in control, allowing just three hits and no earned runs over six innings to earn the win. Hudson struck out four and walked one. Evan Ellis followed with two scoreless innings, striking out three, and Sean York closed out the game, allowing no runs over the final inning to secure the win. Citrus limited Mt. SAC to just six hits and did not allow an earned run in a complete team performance.

In Game 2 at home on Thursday, March 19, the Owls put up 14 runs again, withstanding multiple rallies and a late surge from Mt. San Antonio College to secure a 14-11 victory.

Mt. SAC got on the board with a solo home run in the opening inning, but Citrus quickly answered as West scored on a wild pitch in the bottom of the first to tie the game at 1-1. The Owls went ahead in the second inning, capitalizing on an error and delivering a series of timely hits. Daniels drove in a run with a single before Casado cleared the bases with a three-run double, giving Citrus a 6-1 lead.

Citrus extended its advantage in the third on RBI doubles from Julian Hines and West to push the lead to 8-1. Mt. SAC responded in the fourth with a three-run inning, including a two-run home run, but the Owls countered with two runs in the bottom half on RBI doubles from Nick Velazquez and Garrett Patterson to go up 11-5.

The Mounties rallied again in the fifth, scoring six runs to tie the game at 11-11. Citrus responded immediately, retaking the lead on a sacrifice fly from Daniels in the fifth before he delivered a clutch two-run double in the seventh to put the Owls ahead for good at 14-11.

Daniels led the offensive attack, going 2-for-3 with four RBI, a double and a sacrifice fly, while also drawing a walk. Casado matched with a 2-for-3 performance, driving in three runs with a double. West scored three runs while going 1-for-2 with two walks, an RBI and a double. Velazquez added a 2-for-4 effort with three runs scored, a double and an RBI, while Patterson contributed a 2-for-5 day with two RBI and a double. Hines chipped in a double and an RBI, and Almeda reached base multiple times, contributing a sacrifice bunt to help move runners.

The Owls used a three-pitcher approach to secure the win. Starter Conner Luetto allowed five runs on six hits over four innings, striking out three. Beau Lloyd surrendered six runs on five hits in two-thirds of an inning in relief. Ryan Harrison (W, 2-0) earned the win with 4 1/3 strong innings of relief, allowing just two hits and no runs while striking out four and issuing three walks. Harrison helped stabilize the game late, shutting down Mt. SAC after the Mounties had tied the game.

Citrus will travel to No. 5 ranked Palomar for a non-conference road game at 1 p.m. on Saturday, March 21.