Citrus Bats Stay Hot in 24-Run Win at West LA

No. 9 Citrus College Baseball scored its most runs in the last 14 seasons, defeating West Los Angeles College 24-4 on the road Tuesday, April 22. The Owls improved to 28-10 overall and 15-4 in conference.

The Owls wasted no time getting on the board, scoring in the first inning when Jordan Daniels reached on an error that allowed Cole West to score for an early 1-0 lead.

Citrus added four more runs in the second inning, capitalizing on another West Los Angeles miscue. West delivered the big hit of the inning with a two-run double that was misplayed in right field, allowing three runs to score. Cam Casado followed with an RBI single to push the lead to 5-0.

The Owls blew the game open in the third inning with nine runs on seven hits. Garrett Patterson started the scoring with an RBI single before Dustin Yela and Dominic Torrez added RBI hits. Derek Almeda then drove in two runs with a single, and Nick Velazquez followed with a two-run double. Patterson capped the inning with a two-run triple, and Yela added another RBI single as Citrus extended the lead to 14-0.

Citrus stayed aggressive in the fourth, scoring five more runs. Almeda opened the inning with an RBI single, Casado added a two-run double, Velazquez knocked in another with a single, and Yela capped the inning with an RBI single to make it 19-0.

Jordan Daniels added to the rout in the fifth inning with a solo home run to left field, giving the Owls a 20-0 advantage.

In the eighth, Citrus tacked on four more runs to put the game out of reach. After three runners reached base, Royce Mendoza cleared the bases with a three-run triple, and an additional run scored in the inning to make it 24-0.

The offensive outburst featured production throughout the lineup. West finished 3-for-3 with four runs scored and two RBIs, while Almeda, Velazquez, Yela, Casado, Patterson and Mendoza each drove in three runs. Daniels added a home run, his eighth of the season, and scored three times as the Owls piled up six doubles, three triples and a home run.

On the mound, Tim Hudson (W, 7-1) earned the win after tossing five shutout innings, allowing just two hits and striking out five. Michael Moses followed with three scoreless innings.

Citrus scored in six different innings and put together multi-run rallies in the second, third, fourth and eighth, overwhelming West Los Angeles early and never allowing the Wildcats back into the game.

The Owls will host WLAC for game two on Thursday, April 23 at 2 p.m.