The Pirate baseball team closed to within a half game of first place with a 4-3 triumph over Cuesta Tuesday at Pirate Park. Fabian De La Barcena had an RBI double scoring Dayton Provost in the bottom of the seventh for the game-winning run for Ventura (19-17, 9-7), who swept the season series from the Cougars for the first time since 1989. Noah Proffitt pitched six solid innings, giving up one run while striking out four while Jeff Thoben recorded the final six outs for his first save of the season.
The Pirates took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first. TJ Foreman was hit by a pitch to begin the game, and Provost followed with a walk. After Rudy Aguilar grounded into a double play, Foreman score from third on a wild pitch fo rthe early advantage.
The Cougars tied the game with a run in the top of the third before Ventura retook the lead in the fifth.
Chris McKee led off with a single, then stole second. With one out, Foreman singles McKee to third base, and Provost provided the RBI single.
Cuesta finally got something going with two runs in the top of the seventh to take a 3-2 lead. Unfazed, the Pirates responded in kind with two runs after the seventh inning stretch. Ethan Balolong-Reyes singled to start the frame, and Provost moved him to third with another single. After Provost stole second, Aguilar hit a sacrifice fly to centerfield to tie the score. De La Barcena followed with an RBI double for the 4-3 advantage.
Thoben took over from there, retiring all six batters he faced to save the Pirate victory.
Provost led the offense, going 2-3 on the day with a run scored and one RBI.
The last time the Pirates swept the season series from the Cougars was 1989. In that season, head coach Gary Anglin and VC Hall of Famer Brent Cookson led Ventura to the Western State Conference title.
The current Pirates remain in the hunt as they are one half game behind Santa Barbara and tied for second with Moorpark. The Vaqueros and Raiders play a two-game series next while VC has a two-game set with Allan Hancock College. The Bulldogs will travel to Pirate Park on Thursday April 19 for a 2:30 pm game before the Pirates travel to Santa Maria on Saturday April 21.