After falling behind 5-0 in the fourth inning, the Pirate baseball team clawed its way all the way back, taking a 6-5 lead, only to fall 7-6 after seven extra frames of baseball Wednesday at Allan Hancock College in Santa Maria. The Bulldogs tied the game in the bottom of the ninth inning, and the teams played into the 16th inning before Hancock scored the winning run. Blake Chiaramonte had three hits, drove in one run and scored another and Taylor Campos pitched seven innings of relief, allowing two hits and one run while striking out seven in the loss.
The Pirates (13-9, 3-4) fell behind, giving up five runs in the bottom of the fourth inning, three earned, before getting two back in the top of the fifth. With two outs, Campos reached base on a Hancock error, scoring Kaden Betsch from second base. Chiaramonte followed with an RBI single as VC closed the gap to 5-2.
In the top of the seventh, Ventura used a two-out rally to take the lead with four runs. Chris McKee started the rally with a double and Campos drew a walk. After a pitching change, Chiaramonte walked to load the bases, then Brendan Griffith singled to score two runs. The next batter, Bryson Wallet put the ball in play, and another error on the Bulldogs allowed Chiaramonte and Griffith to come around to score, giving Ventura a 6-5 advantage.
Hancock rallied in the bottom of the ninth inning, however, plating the tying run, sending the game in to extra innings.
In the seven extra frames, the Pirates left five runners on base, including three in scoring position, but were unable to bring home the winning run. Hancock finally broke through with the game-winning run in the bottom of the 16th inning.
Austin Rubick started on the mound for VC, pitching four innings and allowing five runs, three earned. Rubick fanned four batters. Andrew Nardi threw three scoreless innings of relief with four strikeouts for VC.
Griffith finished with a pair of hits, a run scored and an RBI while Campos scored two runs. McKee, Wallet and Elijah Alexander all doubled with McKee scoring a run.
Ventura does not have much time to dwell on the extra-inning loss as they will host the Bulldogs for game two of the series Thursday March 23 at Pirate Park. First pitch is scheduled for 2:30 pm.