It is becoming a theme with the Pirate baseball team that at big inning can make or break their chances in any given game. On Friday, the big inning went against Ventura as they gave up an eight-run fifth in their 11-8 setback at College of the Canyons in Valencia. Hunter Jones pitched well into the fifth before leaving the game during the Cougars' rally. Right Fielder Nick Schnopp had three hits, including a double, with one run scored and one run batted in to pace VC (4-8).
After falling behind 1-0 in the first inning, the Pirates bounced back with a four-run third. Schnopp led things off with a single, followed by another single by KJ Moo-Young. JR Godinez reached base on a fielder's choice play during which Schnopp wa thrown out at third, then Reiss Calvin singled home Moo-Young to tie the game. John Oleson followed with a one-base hit to score Godinez, and Casey Turturici moved the runners ahead with a sacrifice bunt. Calvin scored on the next at-bat on a passed ball, and gage Allen singled home Oleson for a 4-1 VC advantage.
Ventura scored another run in the fifth when Oleson, who doubled, came home when Allen reached base on an error.
The Pirates led 5-2 headed to the bottom half of the frame when the wheels came off. Canyons scored eight times in the bottom of the fifth on five hits and a VC error to go ahead 10-5.
VC scored twice in the eighth, first when Connor Vogel scored on an illegal pitch, then when Godinez singled home Schnopp. They got one more run in the final frame on Schnopp's double down the left field line to score Allen, but the final margin was set to 11-8 for the Cougars.
Godinez, Calvin, Turturici and Vogel all had a pair of hits and scored a run for the Pirates. On the mound, Logan Knight and Jared Hughes each pitched a scoreless inning in relief.
The Pirates return home on Saturday Feb. 19 to face Citrus College at 1:00 pm.