San Marcos spotted Ventura three runs in the first inning on Friday and it cost them, as the Royals couldn’t catch up in a 3-2 Channel League setback.
Nick Stathopoulos pitched a complete game, shutting down the Cougars from the second inning on. Stathopoulos was also one of two Royals – the other being Payton Moore – with a multi-hit game.
Joe Mendoza provided Ventura’s big hit with a 2-run double.
“When they scored the three runs we came back right away and battled,”” Stathopoulos said. “We didn’t let the game get out of hand, we were right there the whole way.”
The Royals got two runs back in the second inning on an RBI single from Moore followed by an RBI bunt from Matt Roberts, scoring Stathopoulos and David Kim.
While more scoring opportunities arose, none were converted.
“We were just playing for that one run and we couldn’t do it,” Stathopoulos explained.
San Marcos, 1-2 in league play, clash with the league-leading Dons twice next week.
VENTURA 3, SAN MARCOS 2
Ventura 300 000 0 – 3 6 2
San Marcos 020 000 0 – 2 7 1
V – Griffith, Torrez(6), Arias(7), and . SM – Stathopoulos, and RMoore. 2b – Mendoza.
