Owls Overpower L.A. Mission to Clinch Series, 14-3

No. 13-ranked Citrus College Baseball defeated Los Angeles Mission College 14-3 last Friday, April 3, to win the conference series 2-1. The win moves the Owls to 21-10 overall and 8-4 in conference play.

Citrus used a pair of big innings to cruise to the win in conference action.

The Owls wasted no time getting on the board, bringing home five runs in the first inning. Jordan Daniels opened the scoring with an RBI single, followed by a sacrifice fly from Cam Casado. Nick Velazquez added an RBI double, and Joe Gilkeson drove in another run with a single before Velazquez capped the inning by stealing home to give Citrus a 5-0 lead.

Citrus added to its lead in the second inning when Daniels delivered an RBI double, his eighth of the season, to make it 6-0.

Los Angeles Mission got on the board in the third inning with a solo home run, but the Owls responded with their biggest inning of the day in the sixth.

Citrus broke the game open with a seven-run sixth inning, highlighted by an RBI double from Gilkeson and a two-RBI single from Derek Almeda. Daniels and Casado each added RBI singles in the frame, while the Owls capitalized on aggressive baserunning, including a stolen home by Daniels. Gilkeson later drove in a run after being hit by a pitch, and Dominic Torrez drew a bases-loaded walk to cap the scoring and extend the lead to 13-1.

Los Angeles Mission added two runs in the eighth, but Citrus maintained control to secure the 14-3 victory.

On the mound, Garrett Patterson (W, 2-1) earned the win after tossing five strong innings, allowing just one run on four hits with three strikeouts. The Citrus pitching staff combined to limit the Eagles to six hits and one home run while striking out six.

Tim Hudson, Sean York, Christian Eaton and Gabe Buranasiri followed in relief to close out the game. Eaton allowed two runs in his inning of work, while Buranasiri pitched a scoreless ninth inning.

At the plate, Citrus totaled 14 hits, led by Daniels (3-for-5, three RBIs), Gilkeson (3-for-4, three RBIs) and Almeda (2-for-4, two RBIs and three runs scored). Velazquez added a double, an RBI and two runs, while Casado drove in two runs as part of a balanced offensive attack.

Up next, the Owls will host Antelope Valley College for game one of a three-game conference series on Tuesday, April 7.