After giving up four runs in the first inning, the Pirates' baseball team kept their game at Cuesta close into the seventh before the Cougars broke the game open in VC's 12-4 setback in San Luis Obispo Monday. Reiss Calvin had another solid day with a double and solo home run, a walk, two runs scored and one run batted in. Mason Reid recorded an RBI double and scored once while Andrew Savage belted out three hits with an RBI. Christian Herrera and Sebastian Garcia each had scoreless frames on the mound for VC (6-12, 2-4).
Cuesta got off to a fast start with four runs in the bottom of the first inning. Starting pitcher Logan Knight settled in after that, putting up a pair of zeros in the next two frames.
Meanwhile, Ventura got on the board in the top of the third inning when Calvin belted a two-out solo home run to make it 4-1.
Cuesta got the run back in the bottom of the fourth, but VC answered with a pair of scores in the sixth. Connor Hickey reached base on an error to lead off, then stole second, Reid brought him home with an RBI double, before coming around to score after a pair of groundouts. VC was within 5-3 headed to the seventh inning.
Unfortunately, Cuesta caught fire after the seventh inning stretch, plating four runs in the frame, and another three in the eighth.
Ventura had a score in the top of the ninth when Haiden Letzing singled home Calvin to set the final 12-4 score.
The Pirates return home on Tuesday March 7 to begin a three-game set with Oxnard. First pitch with the Condors at Pirate Park Tuesday is scheduled for 2:00 pm.