Errors cost Vaqueros in 5-1 loss to Ventura

Left-hander Tyler Watson pitched a complete game for Ventura and SBCC committed six errors in a 5-1 WSC North baseball loss on Thursday at Pershing Park.

The Vaquero miscues led to four unearned runs for the Pirates (9-14, 5-6). Noeh Martinez and Spencer Erdman each went 2-4 for the No. 6 Vaqueros (17-8, 6-5). It was just the second loss in 14 home games for Santa Barbara.

The Vaqueros had three errors in the first three innings, allowing the visitors to grab a 3-0 lead.

"We made too many mistakes to recover from," said SBCC coach Jeff Walker. "We had opportunities early and didn't take advantage.

"We weren't getting two-out hits, we weren't getting the execution, we weren't playing catch and we weren't engaged early, middle or late. It was a very Spring Break-esque day. It seemed like our brains were other places at times and the game let us know that."

Watson, a 6-2 sophomore, gave up zero earned runs on eight hits with seven strikeouts and two walks. It was his third complete game of the year.

"He was the same as we saw before," said Walker. "He had his fastball on the outer third and flips a breaking ball in there for strikes. He's left-handed and we don't want to make adjustments or hit the ball the other way or swing the bats hard. You do those things and you're going to see a CG complete game performance."

Tyler Gilbert started for the Vaqueros and pitched into the seventh. He gave up four runs in 6 1/3 innings but just one was earned. The sophomore left-hander, who's signed with USC, allowed eight hits with four strikeouts and two walks.

Santa Barbara got its only run in the sixth when Erdman singled to left, stole second and scored on a throwing error by second baseman David Newland.

The Vaqueros had first and second with no outs in the seventh after Chris Player singled and Matt Gimenez walked. They tried a double steal but Player was thrown out at third by Brian Magana. Following a strikeout, Martinez reached on a bunt single but was erased at second on a fielder's choice.

The Vaqueros lead the season series with Ventura 2-1. The teams will meet for the final time on Saturday in a 1 p.m. contest at Ventura.