Ventura College baseball has learned an age old lesson in sports, sometimes you win and sometimes you lose.

On Thursday afternoon, the Ventura College baseball team was beat to the pulp by Santa Barbara City College in a 19-6 blowout. 

The Pirates (6-8, 2-4 WSC) defense allowed the Vaqueros (10-8, 3-2) to score 17 of their 19 runs in the first five innings. By the time the Pirates scored, the Vaqueros had built a 17-0 lead. In the first five innings, the Pirates gave up three home runs, which included allowing seven runs in one inning.

Pirates head coach Don Adams made it clear the team needed to work on its pitching.

 “We need to work on our defense,” Adams said.

The Pirates pitching was able to maintain the Vaqueros’ offense, but not after it proved to be too little too late.

After losing several key pitchers from last season, Adams knew the pitching would be an area of concern.

“We learn[ed] that our pitching was going to be a learning experience,” he said.

The Pirates lone returning pitcher only had one win last season, so it was evident that defensively, the Pirates would be having a rebuilding year.

However, Adams did give credit to his reliever’s performance.

“Our two relief pitchers Ryan Hotchkiss and Dennis Doherty did a great job,” he said.

The Pirates were able to score three runs in the fifth and sixth innings, as they finally found an offensive rhythm. Alex Solis and Adam Barry had back-to-back doubles to start off the fifth inning starting the chain of hits against the Vaqueros.

The Pirates hope to avenge their loss to the Vaqueros when they take them on again, this time on the road this Saturday at 1 p.m.

Despite the loss, Adams feels optimistic about where his team is heading.

“We’ll continue to grow,” he said. “We are a young team.”