The Pirate baseball team battled on the road at College of the Canyons , coming up just short in a 3-2 decision against the Cougars. Rudy Aguilar and Dayton Provost each had RBI singles for VC (6-7), and Taylor Goffena pitched into the seventh inning with the start. TJ Foreman and Jacob Valdez scored the runs for Ventura.
The Pirates fell behind early as the Cougars blasted a two-run home run in the bottom of the first inning. Starting pitcher Goffena settled in after that, however, and was solid into the seventh inning.
In the sixth, the Pirates had three walks to load the bases with one out when Aguilar hit an RBI single to cut the deficit to 2-1. Unfortunately, that was the only damage the Pirates could muster in the frame.
In the seventh, Canyons had a one-out home run, knocking Goffena out of the game, but Ekolu Watanabe shut down any further threat by CoC.
In the eighth, Foreman singled to lead off the inning and moved to second of Aguilar's ground out. Provost followed with an RBI single to right field as the Pirates cut the lead to one, 3-2, but they could get no closer.
The Pirates' next contest is Tuesday Feb. 27 at Cerritos.