The wait is finally over. It took 17 games but Porterville College is in the win column thanks to a narrow 3-2 victory over visiting Barstow Community College in the second game of a non-conference doubleheader on Friday. The Pirates were able to bounce back after a 6-1 loss in the opener earlier in the day.
Porterville scored all the runs it would need in the bottom of the second inning. Lane Page led off the frame with a single, Chris Brandon reached base thanks to a Barstow error, and Matt Cox singled to load up the bases. With no outs, Justin Turner (pictured) laced a bases-clearing single to give the Pirates a 3-0 lead.
PC starting pitcher Ricky Reyes cruised through the Barstow lineup before allowing two runs in the top of the sixth. He gave up just one hit and struck out four. David Jimenez closed out the seven-inning win with a scoreless inning of relief.
Cox went 2 for 3 to lead PC at the plate.
The Pirates lost control of the opening game late. With the score tied 1-1, Barstow put up two runs in the fifth and sixth innings before closing out its scoring with a final run in the seventh.
Porterville got its lone run in the fourth when Brandon hit a RBI single to drive in Nico Portillo. Brandon had two of the Pirates' three hits in the contest.
Alfredo Vasquez went the distance in the seven-inning loss. He pitched well, allowing just two earned runs and 11 hits with four strikeouts.
Porterville, now 1-16 overall, opens Central Valley Conference play on Tuesday (Mar. 5) at 2 p.m. when it begins a three-game series at Reedley College.
