Casado’s Ninth-Inning Blast Lifts Citrus to 5-4 Win Over Antelope Valley

No. 13-ranked Citrus College baseball took Game 2 of its three-game series with a 5-4 win at Antelope Valley College on Thursday, April 9. The victory gives the Owls a 2-0 lead in the conference series and improves them to 23-10 overall and 10-4 in conference play.

Citrus opened the scoring in the first inning when designated hitter Jackson Gray lifted a sacrifice fly to center field, bringing home Cole West for a 1-0 lead. Antelope Valley responded in the bottom half with a two-run home run to move in front, 2-1.

The Owls evened the score in the second on an RBI single from Garrett Patterson, but the Marauders answered again in the bottom of the inning with an RBI triple followed by an RBI single to extend their lead to 4-2.

Citrus began to chip away in the fifth when Beau Lloyd singled to left field to score Gray. The Owls pulled even in the seventh on a solo home run by Nick Velazquez, his third of the season.

After Citrus pitching kept Antelope Valley off the board the rest of the way, Cam Casado delivered a clutch hit in the ninth, launching a go-ahead home run to center field. Sean York then retired the side in order in the bottom half to seal the victory.

Casado finished 2-for-4 with a double, a home run — his team-leading seventh of the season — and an RBI. Patterson went 3-for-3 with a walk and an RBI, while Velazquez added a home run, an RBI and a walk. Lloyd drove in a run, and Gray contributed an RBI on a sacrifice fly. West scored once and reached base twice.

On the mound, Conner Luetto allowed four runs on six hits over 6 2/3 innings, striking out five. York (W, 1-0) earned the win with 2 1/3 hitless innings in relief, striking out two.

Citrus returns home Saturday, April 11 for the series finale, with first pitch scheduled for 2 p.m.