They never gave up, fighting to the end. The Pirates' baseball team , trailing by two runs, were able to load the bases in the top of the ninth inning Thursday at Santa Barbara, just could not get one more hit to overcome the Vaqueros in the season finale. VC dropped the 7-5 decision at Pershing Park, finishing the season at an even .500 overall and in Western State Conference North Division play.
Things looked good for Ventura early. Rudy Aguilar homered to left field, bringing home Steele Ledford for a 2-0 first-inning lead. Then in the second, Ledford singled home Chris McKee and Dayton Provost reached base on an error, scoring TJ Foreman for a 4-0 advantage.
The Vaqueros came back, however, with two runs in the fourth, and another pair of scores in the fifth to tie the game. They took a 5-4 lead in the sixth.
VC (20-20, 10-10) kept fighting, however, as Provost tied the game in the seventh with a solo shot down the right field line.
SBCC had one last come back for the Pirates as they plated another two runs in the bottom half of the frame for a 7-5 lead.
But as they had done most of the year, the Pirates kept up the fight. In the top of the ninth inning, Ledford led off by reaching base on an error, then Provost singled. One out later, Fabian De La Barcena also reached on an error to load the bases. Unfortunately, Ventura could not get one more hit, leaving the bases juiced in the 7-5 season-ending loss.
Provost had three hits on the day. including the home run, with a run scored. McKee and Foreman each had two hits with one run scored while Aguilar had a hit with two RBI. Ledford also had an RBI and a run scored with on one hit.
Blake Campbell made the start on the hill, pitching five complete and allowing four runs, two earned while striking out four. Jake Rosley had 1.1 innings of scoreless relief.
The Pirates end the season in a three-way tie for third place in the conference with Hancock and Cuesta.