The 2020 baseball season got off to a rough start for the Porterville College Pirates. Hosting Lassen Community College in a three-game series to begin the season, PC dropped a doubleheader to the Cougars on Friday and lost the series finale on Saturday.
The season-opener saw the Pirates get edged 3-2 before a 5-1 loss in Game 2. And on Saturday, Lassen cruised to a 12-0 win.
Game 1: Lassen 3, Porterville 2
Lassen opened the season and the game by scoring two runs in the top of the first inning off PC starter Aaron Hernandez. After some nerves in the first, Hernandez settled down to hold the Cougars scoreless. He tossed 5 2/3 innings, allowing just the two runs and six hits. He struck out five and walked three.
Down 2-0, PC got its first run of the season thanks to a RBI single by Fernando Montoya in the bottom of the fourth. Lassen got the run back in the seventh before the Pirates put together a rally in the eighth.
Porterville was able to load the bases with two outs and JT Edmonds' walk forced in Brandon Clingerman with a run. But Lassen reliever Bennett King was able to get Brent Vasquez to pop out to end the threat.
Montoya went 2 for 3 with a RBI and double to lead PC at the plate.
Game 2: Lassen 5, Porterville 1
The Pirates managed just two hits in their loss to Lassen on Friday afternoon to close out the doubleheader. PC scored its lone run in the bottom of the third inning thanks to a Lassen error.
The Cougars scored three runs in the fourth to go ahead for good. Luis Garay took the loss for PC after allowing four runs and eight hits over 4 2/3 innings. David Trotta pitched well in relief with two scoreless innings to end the contest.
Game 3: Lassen 12, Porterville 0
The series came to a close on Saturday with Lassen leaving town with a big win. Leading 1-0 after two innings, the Cougars rallied for eight runs in the top of the third to put the game out of reach.
The Porterville offense totaled just three singles in the contest as six different Cougar pitchers combined for the shutout.
Kadon Wright took the loss for Porterville after allowing six runs and six hits over 2 1/3 innings. Landon Jordan (2 innings) and Jorge Medrano (1 innings) had scoreless appearances for PC.
Porterville, now 0-3, will look for its first win on Wednesday (Jan. 29) when the Pirates host College of the Siskiyous in a doubleheader starting at 11 a.m.