Cuesta Baseball completed its series sweep of 2019 Western State Conference co-Champion Ventura in their WSC opening three-game series. The Cougars outscored the Pirates 23-10 in the first two games, but only needed two runs today to complete the sweep, 2-1. Starting Pitchers Jared Villalobos of Cuesta and Noah Proffitt of Ventura both allowed a leadoff double in the first inning, but stranded both runners and traded zeros for the first four innings of their pitching duel. Cuesta Centerfielder and leadoff batter Broc Mortensen ignited the Cougars' offense with a 3-for-4 day at the plate. He smacked the Cougars' leadoff double and in the 5th inning he broke open the stalemate with his first home run of the season. Mortensen also picked up a single in the 7th for his third hit of the day and came around to also score Cuesta's second run to double the Cougars' lead, 2-0. Cuesta Starter Jared Villablobos dominated the Pirates, while striking out six and allowing only five hits before handing his shutout off to the bullpen with two outs in the 8th. Closer Nico Martinez earned his second save of the season, despite offering up a gopherball to Ventura's Hunter Klingelhoffer in the final frame.
#10 Cuesta continues its 2020 Western State Conference against local rival Allan Hancock next week. The Cougars host the Bulldogs on Tuesday (2 PM) and Saturday (1 PM) and play the sandwich game in Santa Maria on Thursday (2 PM).
Cuesta: 9-4, 3-0
Ventura: 5-8, 0-3