BASEBALL: Owls Drop Close Defensive Battle

Citrus College battled on the road at Oxnard College, but just couldn't get its bats hot and dropped a close 3-2 loss.

The Fighting Owls fall to 6-6 overall, while the Condors improve to 2-9 on the year.

Citrus capitalized first, scoring one run in the top of the first to take an early lead. Kanta Kobayashi singled and immediately stole second. The throw to try to catch him was off target, allowing Kobayashi to reach third. Jack Strickland then sent him home by sacrificing a ball deep to right, 1-0.

Oxnard tied the game up in the third, but Citrus took back the lead in the top of the seventh. Brett Bowers led the frame off with a double and Go Hattori followed with a single to join him on base. Matthew Ramirez turned on a pitch for an RBI single as Bowers scored from third, 2-1.

The Owls tried to hold off the Condors but Oxnard managed to plate the tying run in the eighth and walked off with an RBI single in the ninth to take the game 3-2.

Five Owl pitchers combined to hold the Condors to three runs, with Diego Cruz striking out three batters.

Citrus returns home to host Mt. San Jacinto College on Tuesday with first pitch set for 2:00 p.m.