BASEBALL: Gomez Throws Lights Out Against LA Valley

Citrus College kept its winning ways going Monday afternoon with a 6-0 victory over LA Valley.

The Fighting Owls improve to 10-10 overall and remain unbeaten in Western State Conference – South action. The Monarchs drop to 8-12 on the year, 0-4 in conference.

Samuel Gomez pitched a complete game, allowing just five hits in nine innings while striking out 15 batters.

Citrus got the ball rolling in the bottom of the first after Kanta Kobayashi singled to center field to lead the inning off. The Monarchs managed to get two outs, but Kobayashi scored on a balk to put the Owls up 1-0 early.

Alejandro Loera drove in the second run with a base hit up the middle to score Andrew Duran, who had singled aboard with a hard hit ball back to the pitcher.

Kobayashi drew a walk to lead off the fifth and proceeded to steal second and then third. Go Hattori reached first on a throwing error and Kobayashi came home to extend the Owls' lead to 3-0.

Citrus doubled its lead in the sixth to all but put the game away. Tyler Kretschmar singled up the middle and stole second to start the inning. Loera followed with a base hit to right field, leading to runners in scoring position at second and third. 

Anthony Mico stepped up to the plate and knocked an RBI single, sending Kretschmar home. With Loera at third, Mico stole second but the catcher's throw went wild, allowing Loera to score, 5-0. Guzman capped the scoring with a sacrifice fly ball, giving Mico the green light to tag up at third, 6-0.

Gomez kept the Monarchs off the board, striking out seven of the last nine batters of the game.

The Owls are scheduled to play the Monarchs again on Thursday at LA Valley at 2:30 p.m.