Missed opportunities were the rule of the day Sunday as the Pirate baseball team fell to defeat for the first time in 2017, 10-5 against Fullerton to conclude a three-day stay in Bakersfield. VC was scoreless in two bases loaded situations with one out and they left 13 men on base in the game. Brendan Griffith and Nick Bero both collected two hits on the day for Ventura (2-1).
VC jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Chris McKee reached first on an error then stole second base and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Rudolfo Aguilar was hit by a pitch before Blake Chiaramonte knocked in McKee with a sacrifice fly. Aguilar then stole second and went to third on a groundout before Bryson Wallet came up with the two-out RBI single.
The Hornets came back with one in the second inning before the Pirates' clutch hitting went missing. VC had the bases loaded with one out in the third, looking to extend their lead and came up empty.
Fullerton countered with a four-run bottom half of the frame to take a 5-2 lead.
Ventura opened the top of the fourth inning with a pair of base hits abut came up empty again, and Fullerton plated two more runs in the bottom of the fourth and led 7-2.
In the top of the seventh, the Pirates once again had an opportunity to score some runs but could not pick up the key hit. They opened with a walk and a single, and after an out, loaded the bases with another base knock. A strikeout and a groundout followed as VC still trailed 7-2. Fullerton plated three runs in the bottom of the inning to make it 10-2.
VC finally plated three runs in the top of the eighth inning but it was too little, too late as they fell to the Hornets by a final score of 10-5.
Charlie Brooks picked up the loss on the mound for VC giving up seven runs over four innings. Devon Lindley came on in relief, giving up three runs over three innings and David Hughes pitched a scoreless eighth inning.
Chiaramonte had two RBI for VC while Aguilar, Griffith and Wallet each knocked in one run.
Ventura travels to College of the Canyons on Tuesday Jan. 31 before their "home" opener against San Diego Mesa on Friday Feb. 3. The game against the Olympians will be played at Moorpark College as field renovations at Pirate Park will not be ready for play until the end of the month.