BASEBALL: Citrus Keeps Bats Hot in Defeat

Citrus College kept its bats hot once again, finishing with 10 hits, but was held to just three runs in an 8-3 loss to San Diego City College.

The Fighting Owls drop to 6-9 overall, while the Knights improve to 7-5.

Brett Bowers went 2-for-3 at the plate with an RBI and a walk. Joshua Guzman came in as a substitute and went 2-for-2 with one run, while Kanta Kobayashi (2-for-4) and Andrew Duran (1-for-1) also scored a run.

The Vaqueros started the game off with a run in the top of the first, but the Owls matched it in the bottom half of the inning. With two outs, Kobayashi doubled to start a rally. Bowers then singled straight up the middle to send Kobayashi home for the tying run, 1-1.

San Diego City tacked on seven more runs – one each in the fifth and sixth and five in the eighth – before Citrus could capitalize again.

In the bottom of the eighth, Guzman came in as a pinch hitter and doubled to right center. Duran also pinch hit and joined Guzman on base with a base hit through the left side. The Knights managed to get one out, but Hattori knocked a single deep to right to send one runner home. An error then sent Duran home, but it was the most San Diego City would allow as the Knights found the third out to end the game, 8-3.

The Owls get a second chance at the Knights, heading to San Diego City for another contest. First pitch is set for 1:00 p.m.