#8 Cuesta and #16 Reedley have played a home-and-home series every year since the pandemic.  They split the series in both 2022 and 2024, but in 2023 the Cougars lost on the road and, due to darkness, had to settle for 12-inning tie, 8-8, in SLO.  This year, for the first time the Cougars outplayed the Tigers and swept the series.  Last week in Reedley, The Cougars won the opener, 10-1, and then completed the sweep today at Cuesta, 6-2.   First Baseman Tristan Usher and Shortstop Max Hunter powered the Cougars on offense.  Hunter got things started with an RBI-single in the 2nd inning, which grew into a three-run lead.  Usher led off the 3rd inning with a towering home run and two frames later he led off the 5th inning with another roundtripper.  Hunter also came back to knock in a run in the 5th inning, as the Cougars extended their lead to an insurmountable, 6-0.   In their next turn at bat, Reedley finally got on the board with a pair of runs but stranded six baserunners over the last four innings and fell, 6-2.  Usher ended the game going 2-for-3 with two runs scored and two-RBI, while Hunter was 3-for-4 with one run scored and two driven in.  Both the Cougars and Tigers posted eight hits in the game.  Cuesta Reliever Chase Viale claimed the decision, despite allowing both Tiger runs.  The victory moved Cuesta to 3-5 on the season.  

Cuesta Baseball returns to action this weekend in Mission Viejo.   The Cougars shall play a three-game series with #1-ranked Saddleback.  The Cougars and Bobcats are set to play on Friday (1 PM) and Saturday (11/2 PM).