SBCC jumped out to a 6-2 lead after four innings on Saturday at Pershing Park but couldn’t overcome a nine-run fifth in an 11-9 WSC baseball loss to Ventura.
Andrew Leighty belted a grand slam in the first inning and had five RBIs for the Vaqueros (12-9, 1-4 WSC North), who’ve dropped three straight and eight of their last 10.
“It was a frustrating week,” said coach Teddy Warrecker. “We weren’t able to play with all three phases of the game at the same time.”
Starter Chad Caraccioli was one pitch away from getting out of the fifth with a 6-5 lead but he gave up an RBI single on an 0-2 count. Greg Pellici entered and surrendered three straight singles and a walk. He was replaced by Joe McGrew and Derek Ring delivered a grand slam on the second pitch to give the Pirates (7-6, 2-3) an 11-6 lead.
Bauman, Corey Krupp and Zack Chavez all went 2-4 with Bauman scoring three runs and Chavez two. Chavez had a two-out RBI single in the ninth and Bauman hit the next pitch onto Castillo Street for a two-run blast, boosting his team-leading total to four homers.
Ryan Gardner came on in the seventh and turned in three scoreless relief innings, allowing one hit with three strikeouts.
The Vaqueros travel to Ventura on Tuesday.
VENTURA 11, SBCC 9
Ventura ………… 010 190 000 — 11 13 0
SBCC …………… 401 100 003 — 9 10 1
Rau, Javate (5), Rudman (9) and Yingling; Caraccioli, Pellici (5), McGrew (5), Gardner (7) and Keller, Gregory (9). W–Javate. L–Pellici (0-3).
2B–SB: Ceverha. HR–V: Walters, 2nd inn., none on; Walters, 4th inn., none on; Ring, 5th inn., three on. SB: Leighty (2), 1st inn., three on; Bauman (4), 9th inn., one on.
Records–V 7-6, 2-3. SB 12-9, 1-4.
