PORTERVILLE – Jonah Ward allowed 1 earned run over 7 innings while a five-run, third-inning rally provided all the offense Porterville College would need to beat visiting Diablo Valley College by a final score of 5-4 in the opening game of a non-conference doubleheader at home on Saturday.

 The win snapped a four-game losing streak for the Pirates.

PC totaled 8 hits in the contest, getting 5 in the instrumental third inning. Justice Loflin had the big blow, a two-out, two-run single that gave the Pirates a 5-1 lead. Joziah Valdez also smacked a run-scoring single while a Diablo Valley error allowed two more runs to come in.

Ward was solid in the start in earning the win on the mound. He struck out 4 batters while allowing 8 hits. Braden Parmley picked up the save, getting the final two outs of the game with the potential game-tying and go-ahead runs on base.

PC couldn't keep the momentum going and suffered an 11-1 loss in Game 2 that was called after 8 innings. Valdez hit another RBI double in the bottom of the first inning to score Larsen with the Pirates' lone run.