Back on the road for an important early season Western State Conference match up the Ventura College baseball team couldn't hold onto an early lead and fell 8-6 to Santa Barbara. Ryan Coker had a pair of two out two RBI singles for the Pirates. Brison Cronenbold had three hits including a double and scored two runs. Bryson Wallet had three hits including a double and scored one run and drove in two.
Ventura (11-9, 5-4) is in the thick of an crazy early season Western State Conference North race and came out with a 3-0 advantage early after two runs in the second and one run in the third. SBCC answered with two in the bottom of the third and one in the fourth to tie the game at 3-3. When the Vaqueros pushed across two runs in the seventh for a 5-3 it awoke the Pirate offense who scored two runs in the eighth to tie the game. Yet, SBCC was not to be denied as they plated three runs in the bottom of the inning to go up 8-5. VC fought to the end with one run in the top of the ninth and had the tying run at the plate when the game ended on a force out at second base.
Nate Green started for the Pirates and was dealt the loss. Vinny Avila picked up a hit and scored two runs. Erick Allegro brought home the other Pirate run.
Ventura will play host to Santa Barbara on Thursday Mar. 17 for a 2:30 pm contest and then follow it up with another 2:30 pm home contest on Friday Mar. 18 with rival Oxnard College.