The Inland Valley Pirates lost the first game of the 2017 Sunset League Playoffs 4-3 to the Ventura County Pirates Wednesday afternoon.
Inland Valley jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead in the top of the first. Christian Lopez delivered a two-out two- run single off Ventura County starter Griffin Hagen.
Cal Poly’s Matt Manskar added an RBI single in the top of the fourth to make it 3-0 Inland Valley.
Ventura County finally broke through in the bottom of the fourth with two runs. Grant Mona and Lucas Thrun each had an RBI single.
It stayed a one run game til the bottom of the eighth. Inland Valley was five outs away when the wheels came off. Third baseman Matt Manskar committed back to back errors with two outs to tie the game. Then pinch hitter Kyle Soberano lined a ball over left fielder Jake Taylor for the go ahead RBI double.
Robert Stowell retired the side in order in the ninth to preserve the 4-3 win for Ventura County.
Inland Valley now plays in the elimination game Thursday morning at 11am at Cal Poly Pomona.