Cuesta Baseball is back home this Tuesday (2 PM) and Saturday (1 PM) to host the Ventura Pirates but will also spend Thursday (2 PM) in Ventura as part of their three-game WSC series.  The Cougars are currently 9-8 on the season and 4-2 in Western State Conference play.

Last week, the Cougars dropped their first two games against defending WSC Champion Santa Barbara, 17-1 and 7-4, but rallied in Santa Barbara on Saturday to salvage a win in the series, 7-2.  Cuesta's Sophomore Starting Pitcher Justin Cortez  authored a complete game gem on his way to his team-leading third victory of the season.  Cortez allowed only three hits, while striking out ten Vaqueros.  Santa Barbara managed to score two unearned runs in the game, including one in the bottom of the ninth, but the Cougars' offense kept the game out of reach.  Outfielders Jak Sinclair and Aidan Botti (pict) each enjoyed three-hit games and accounted for six of the Cougars eight hits, however Cuesta's offense also received a boost from the Vaqueros pitching staff that issued eight free passes.  Sinclair also re-asserted his "clutch" credentials with his second 5-RBI game of the season, including plating Botti twice, while boosting his team leading total to 21 runs driven in over the last 17 games.