Cuesta Baseball missed an opportunity to extend its lead in the Western State Conference Standings but couldn't convert their hits into runs in their loss to Santa Barbara City, 6-5.  Cuesta Starter Robinson Lardner (pict-L)carried a no-hitter into the 6th inning, but the visiting Vaqueros brought Tyler Imbach around after his leadoff single and added another on an error for the first runs of the game.  The Cougars, who stranded six runners during the first five innings, answered the call after the Vaqueros got on the board.  In their half of the 6th, a leadoff walk by reigning WSC Player of the Year Zachary Tallerman ignited a five-hit, five-run inning, which was highlighted by Robert Mansour's two-run triple.   The Vaqueros chipped away at the Cougars' three-run lead with a run in both the 7th and 8th inning, before taking advantage of a walk and back-to-back doubles to take the lead for good in the 9th.   After their five-run 6th inning the Cougars were quiet after the stretch, they left the bases loaded in the 7th and went down in order in the 8th and 9th.  On the day, the Cougars out-hit the Vaqueros, 12-6, and out-fielded them, one error to two, but have now dropped back to a three-way tie with both the Vaqueros and local rival Allan Hancock.  The trio stands atop the WSC Standings, as all three teams are 13-6 in conference play, with five games remaining on the table.  

Cuesta is on the road the rest of this week.  They play at Ventura on Thursday (2:30) and in Santa Maria against local rival Allan Hancock on Saturday (Noon).  They will wrap up regular season play with three more Western State Conference games next week, including a pair at home against Pierce on Tuesday (2:30) and Moorpark on Thursday (2:30).