The Pirate baseball team led Moorpark 4-2 at the seventh inning stretch Saturday afternoon, only to give up four late runs to the Raiders to drop the game 6-4. David King led the Pirate offense with two hits, including a double, with one run scored and one run batted in. Henry Borjas also had two hits on the day with a run and Jacob Tostado scored twice. Luca Staiano had another solid start on the mound, pitching five innings and giving up two earned runs while striking out six.
Ventura scored in the top of the first when Haiden Letzing hit a sacrifice fly to center field scoring King, who hit a one-out double and moved to third on a wild pitch during the next at bat.
With the 1-0 advantage, VC ace Staiano gave up one run in the second and fourth innings, respectively before the Pirates tied the game in the top of the fifth.
Tostado single-handedly manufactured the run in the fifth for Ventura. He led off the frame with a walk then, stole second. He advanced from second to home on a failed pick-off attempt by the Raider pitcher and VC tied the score at 2-2.
The Pirates then took an advantage with two runs in the top of the seventh inning with a two-out rally. Tostado drew a walk and moved to second when Borjas singled. King then hit a clutch RBI single to score Tostado. During the next at bat, the Pirates pulled off the double steal with King moving to second and Borjas taking third. A throwing error then allowed each runner to move forward 90 feet with Borjas scoring for the 4-2 VC lead.
Unfortunately Moorpark answered with four runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to take the lead and the game, 6-4.
Ryan Dexter had a difficult outing in relief for Ventura pitching an inning-plus and taking the loss. Harrison Cordeiro pitches two full innings to finish the contest for VC on the mound.
The Pirates will begin a three-game set with Cuesta at home on Tuesday Feb. 27. First pitch with the Cougars is scheduled for 2:00 pm.