BASEBALL: Hattori Goes Big at the Plate in Owl Defeat

Citrus College got its bats hot Thursday, but just couldn't send runners home in a 5-1 loss to Cypress College.

The Fighting Owls fall to 6-8 on the year with the result, while the Chargers improve to 11-2.

Go Hattori had a strong showing at the plate for the Owls, going 3-for-4 with the lone run. Citrus also saw hits from Kanta Kobayashi, Brett Bowers (1 RBI), Tyler Kretschmar and Joshua Guzman. 

Cypress scored four of its runs in the first two innings and tacked on the fifth in the sixth.

Hattori got a two-out rally going in the top of the seventh, knocking a base hit to center field. Bowers gave Hattori the green light to come home with another single to center, but the Chargers got the next out to end the inning without conceding any more runs.

The sophomore third baseman tried to get another rally going in the ninth and led the inning off with a single, once again to center field, but Cypress managed to turn a double play. Bowers drew ball four to keep the inning alive briefly, but the Chargers got the third out to take the game 5-1.

Citrus looks to bounce back as it turns right around to host San Diego City on Friday at 2:00 p.m.