Cuesta baseball won its 2020 Western State Conference opener over the defending WSC co-Champion Ventura Pirates, 8-3.
The game began like a heavyweight bout, both teams pushing and probing for an advantage. The Pirates scored first on a pair of doubles in the 1st inning, but the Cougars righted themselves on a sacrifice fly in the 3rd inning.
Cuesta pressed the advantage and took the lead in the 5th on a two-out triple and a balk. The Bucs and Cougs traded two-run haymakers in the 6th and 7th inning, but the Cougars took control for good with four runs on four hits and two Pirate errors in the 8th inning.
Cuesta center fielder Broc Mortensen was 2-for-4 in the game with a run scored and two RBI. His two-out triple in the 5th inning gave the Cougars their first lead and his 2-RBI single in the 7th gave them back the lead for good.
Left fielder Zachary Morris was the only other Cougar batsmen to enjoy a multi-hit day. He was 2-for-3, including a double, and scored twice in the game.
The Cougars used five pitchers in the win and Will Crookham pitched a game-high four innings, while striking out four and allowing only one earned run, however the Cougars regained the lead during Jake Robinson’s time on the hill. Robinson improved to 2-0 on the year.
#10 Cuesta continues its 2020 Western State Conference schedule at #18 Ventura on Thursday (2 PM). The Cougars, who are currently in the midst of their longest WSC title drought since 1989 (an enviably short three years), also host the 2019 WSC co-Champion Ventura Pirates on Saturday (1 PM).
-Provided by Cuesta College
