Baseball opened its annual series with defending CCCAA State Champion Orange Coast with a convincing victory, 16-3. The Cougars jumped out early with two runs in the first, but the Pirates took the lead in the 3rd on a three-run home run by Shortstop David Morgan. Cuesta evened the game in their next turn on Third Baseman Harrison Hart's solo shot, while Starting Pitcher Tino Triest-Escobar and the bullpen kept the Pirates' bats silent for the rest of the game. Cuesta's pitchers did not surrender an earned run in the game, however it was the offense that made the day. The Cougars took the lead for good in the 5th inning with five runs, in an inning keyed by two crucial errors by the Bucs, and blew the game open with six more runs the next inning. Cuesta connected for 20 total hits on the day, including nine for extra bases, to post the program's best hitting performance in a decade. Hart led the way going 3-for-5 with a double, home run and five RBI, while Rightfielder Kirk Woolf and Designated Hitter Holden Cumiskey also enjoyed three-hit days.
Cuesta, ranked 10th in the preseason poll, and the current #1 team and defending CCCAA State Champions shall continue their annual series with games tomorrow (2 PM) and Saturday (Noon).
