The Pirate baseball team dropped a 6-3 decision at Santa Barbara City College Tuesday afternoon. The Vaqueros did most of their damage in a five-run third inning while Ventura was limited to five hits on the day, including a triple by Jacob Harris. Omar Gastelum and Alejandro Soto each batted in a run for VC (6-11, 1-6).
Jacob Martinez made the start on the hill for the Pirates, throwing five complete innings and striking out six while yielding the five runs in the third. JuanCarlos Rodarte and Travis Nelson shared relief duties.
Ventura took the early 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Tommy-Gibbons Matsuyama drew a lead-off walk and moved to second on a wild pitch. He moved to third on Gabe Baldovino's groundout and scored on Gastelum's single.
The Vaqueros came back, however, with their big inning to take control of the game.
The Pirates answered with a pair of runs in the top of the fourth. Hunter Klingelhoffer led off reaching base on an error and Gastelum followed with a base on balls. Harris reached base on a fielder's choice on which Klingelhoffer was forced out at third base and Riley Langerman singled to load the bases. Soto then hit a sacrifice fly to score Gastelum, and Harris scored on an error when Langerman stole second base.
SBCC added an insurance run in the seventh inning for the final 6-3 margin.
Ventura returns home on Thursday Mar. 5 for the middle game of the three-game set with the Vaquero's first pitch is slated for 2:00 pm at Pirate Park.