The VC baseball team dropped an 11-7 decision at Cuesta Saturday to fall in the 3-game set with the Cougars. Lucas Martinov had three hits, including a double, and scored three runs in the effort while Matthew Ramirez and Daniel Aguilera each ad a pair of hits with two runs batted in. Ventura's relievers of Hudson Gray, Cole Blommer and Austin Kurr threw 4.2 innings of scoreless baseball in the contest. Jacob Tostado and Grant Rodriguez also recorded two hits each.
The Cougars jumped out to a 3-0 lead after the bottom of the second and made it a runaway with an eight-run fourth.
The Pirates kept up the fight, however, with five runs in the top of the fifth. With one out, Martinov, Tommy Castaneda and Tostado all singled to load the bases. All runners then moves up 90 feet on a wild pitch and Henry Borjas followed with an RBI single. Matthew then doubled home another run, leaving two Pirates in scoring position. Rodriguez singled to fill the diamond, once again and Aguilera singled home a pair of scores one out later.
Ramirez singled home Martinov in the sixth inning, and Borjas knocked in Martinov in the eighth to set the final margin.
Ventura next will host Oxnard on Tuesday Mar. 11 to begin a three-game series with the Condors.