Morgan Grove hit a two-run home run in the top of the 10th inning as Citrus Park Little League bounced back from an opening loss at the Big League World Series with a 4-3 victory against San Juan, Puerto Rico, in Kalamazoo, Mich., on Monday.

“The girls knew that the had to win that game,” Citrus Park manager al Bowman said. “There is some history between our parks, and they stepped up.”

Citrus Park had defeated San Juan to win the 2005 Senior League World Series, and never trailed in Monday’s game. Grove’s homer came after Mya Anderson doubled, and both runs were neccesary as San Juan rallied to score once and had the potential tying and winning runs in scoring position before Grove closed out the game.

Grove pitched all 10 innings, while Anderson finished with three hits, including a solo home run in the fourth.

Holding leads was problematic in both games for Citrus Park. In its earlier game, Citrus Park let two leads slip as it lost to Brzeg, Poland, 5-4 in nine innings. Citrus Park led 4-1 after the top half of the sixth but was unable to close out the game.

Because of the loss, Citrus Park likely will have to win both of its remaining pool games - against Kalamazoo and Palmdale, Calif. - to advance to the semifinals. Bowman said he was disappointed by the team’s lack of sharpness in its opener, but expected the pressure of having to win its two remaining games to bring out the best in his team. He added that the team’s pitching depth would come into play as well, with Khyrstyne Ely and Chelsea Oglevie available for their game today against Kirkland.

“We’re probably better off than most of the teams out here,” Bowman said. “Khyrstyne is very capable out there, and Chelsea Oglevie is definitely very capable out there, so while that situation would cripple some teams, we’re fortunate enough that we’re strong enough to get through it.”

In part thanks to Citrus Park’s pair of extra-inning games, Monday saw a tournament record four games go to extra innings, with Kalamazoo defeating Palmdale 1-0 in 11 innings, and Manilla, Phillipines defeating Windsor, Ontario 9-8 in eight innings.