Pirates Close with Final 6 Runs, Walk Off SBCC

The Pirate baseball team scored six runs over the final three innings to turn a 12-7 deficit at the seventh inning stretch into a 13-12 walk-off victory over Santa Barbara Saturday at Pirate Park. Peter Dufau had a two-out RBI single to plate the winning run in the bottom of the ninth scoring Yuki Kawashima, who was 2-5 in the game with a grand slam home run, two stolen bases, two runs scored and four runs batted in. Jaden Valdez pitched the final two frames to pick up the win on the mound for Ventura (10-11, 4-7).

The Pirates got off to a slow start and dug an 8-0 hole as the Vaqueros scores two runs in the first, two in the third and four in the fourth for the edge.

Dufau doubled to lead off the bottom of the fourth, went to third on Mason Reid's bunt to the pitcher and scored on a ground ball out by Aaron McLeod to put Ventura on the board.

Santa Barbara made it 10-1 with two more runs in the top of the fifth, but the Pirates seemed to get things going in the bottom half of the frame.

Jacob Tostado and Kawashima sandwiched singles around a walk by Henry Borjas to load the bases with no outs. Haiden Letzing followed with a sacrifice fly to score Tostado and one out later Dufau hit an RBI single to push Borjas home. 

Wilson Spinks came out of the bullpen to black the Vaqueros in the top of the sixth before the Pirates closed the gap with one swing of the bat in the bottom of the inning.

With one out, David King and Tostado each singled. Borjas followed with a walk before Kawashima went yard to clear the bases wit the grand slam home run. Ventura trailed SBCC 10-7 at the end of the frame.

Santa Barbara responded with two more runs in the top of the seventh setting the stage for the Pirate comeback.

After the seventh inning stretch, Reid hit a one-out single, as did Evan DeVally. King walked after a pitching change to load the bases and Tostado delivered an RBI single. Borjas followed with a 6-3 groundout to score another run and the Pirates trailed 12-9.

The Pirates made it a one-run game with two more scores in the bottom of the eighth. Letzing led off with a solo home run before Dufau hit a one-out single, moving to second base on a wild pitch. After the second out of the inning, DeVally doubled home Dufau to make it 12-11 for SBCC headed to the ninth.

After Valdez retired the side for Ventura in the top of the final column, the Pirates came up with a chance to tie or win the game. Tostado led off with a walk before Borjas sacrificed him to second. After stealing third, Tostado came home on a wild pitch to tie the game. Kawashima then walked and stole second before Letzing was walked intentionally. With two outs, Kawashima stole third before coming home to score on Dufau's walk-off RBI single.

Dufau had a stellar day at the plate with four hits, including a double, with two RBI and two runs scored. Tostado had three hits and a walk while knocking in one and scoring three times and Borjas scored twice after walking twice. Letzing had a pair of RBI and scored once for the Pirates. 

VC next travels to West Hills Coalinga on Tuesday March 19 before hosting Compton on Friday March 22.