Pirate baseball drops season finale

The VC baseball team carried a three-run lead into the sixth inning Friday afternoon at Pirate Park, but Allan Hancock answered with a four-run rally and held on for a 4-3 win in the regular season finale. Damien Valdez had a pair of hits, including a double, with a run batted in to lead the Pirates while Hector Pina singled, walked and scored a run. Jaden Valdez, Alex Escobar and Nicholas Tostado all threw multiple scoreless innings from the mound.

The Pirates broke through first in the fourth. VC scored all three of its runs in the frame to seize control at 3-0, making the most of limited offensive chances in a game where runs were otherwise difficult to produce. Grant Rodriguez, Pina and Mario Franco all scored for the Pirates.

Valdez led Ventura at the plate, going 2 for 4 with an RBI, while the Pirates finished with five hits and seven walks.

Hancock did not score through the first five innings, but the Bulldogs broke the game open in the sixth, scoring all four of their runs.

Ventura's pitchers kept the Bulldogs quiet for much of the day before the momentum shifted.

The Pirates, who showed promise early in the season before injuries took their toll, finished the year with a 16-24 record overall and a 9-15 mark in Western State Conference play.