Pirates snap winless streak, beat Fresno 6-3

Porterville College center fielder Alex Sarmienta went 2 for 4 with a home run and a pair of RBI to help lead the Pirates to their first win of the season, a 6-3 Central Valley Conference victory at Fresno City College on Friday.

Sarmienta's solo blast in the top of the fifth inning broke a 3-3 tie and put Porterville ahead for good. He also drove in PC's opening run of the game in the top of the first. His RBI single brought in Andres Garza to put the Pirates on the board before a FCC wild pitch allowed Brandon Lozano to score and give Porterville a quick 2-0 lead.

Fresno (12-7, 2-1 CVC) tied up the game with two runs in the second before Porterville went ahead in the fourth when Garza knocked in Luis Martinez with a single.

The Rams came back again to even up the contest in the bottom of the fourth to set the scene for Sarmienta in the fifth. Porterville added a pair of insurance runs in the eighth, thanks to an RBI single by Lozano while a balk allowed Garza to come in.

Alfredo Vasquez earned the win for PC. He allowed three runs (two earned) and 10 hits over 6 ⅔ innings. Matt Cox closed out the victory for the save as he tossed 2 ⅓ scoreless innings.

Porterville, now 1-18 overall and 1-2 in conference play, returns to action on Tuesday (March 13) at 3 p.m. when the Pirates open a three-game CVC series at Cerro Coso College.