The Pirate baseball team had scoring chances, but could not find home plate in a 6-0 loss to visiting Taft College at Pirate Park Friday. Chris McKee and Elijah Alexander each had two hits and each recorded a stolen base in the non-conference match-up. Justin Friedman pitched seven innings, giving up three runs to give the Pirates a chance in the game, but took the hard-luck loss.
Taft scored a run in the top of the first inning, then remained scoreless until the eighth. The Cougars scored three times in the eighth and two more in the final frame to set the final margin.
The Pirates were not without chances to score in the game. With two outs in the first, Blake Chiaramonte reached base on an error and Brendan Griffith walked, but VC could not find the key two-out hit. VC opened the second with an Alexander single and a walk by Kaden Betsch to no avail.
Bryson Wallet and Alexander had back-to-back singles in the fourth inning, and advanced to second and third with one out, but once again, Ventura couldn't find the way home. They also had two on with one out in the seventh, and loaded the bases in the ninth, just missing that key hit with runners in scoring position.
Ventura will close out their non-conference schedule on Saturday April 15 with a home contest against Orange Coast. First pitch at Pirate Park is scheduled for 12:00 pm. VC resumes Western State Conference play on Tuesday April 18 at Cuesta.