Pirates swept in three-game home series by Ohlone

It was a rough weekend for the Porterville College baseball team. Visiting Ohlone College totaled 51 runs over three games to sweep the series against the Pirates.

Ohlone beat Porterville 26-5 in the series opener on Thursday before finishing off the sweep by taking a doubleheader on Friday, winning by scores of 13-0 and 12-3.

Shaky defense really hurt the Pirates in Game 1 as five errors led to 12 unearned runs. Brandon Dodd and Colin King both drove in two runs each while Fernando Montoya hit an RBI double. Landon Jordan took the loss, allowing 10 runs (4 earned) and 4 hits over 2 innings.

Porterville managed just two hits in the Game 2 shutout on Friday. Montoya and Andres Garza hit singles for the Pirates.

 After tossing two shutout innings to open the game for PC, things fell apart for starter Aaron Hernandez as Ohlone exploded for 6 runs in the third. Hernandez took the loss, allowing 8 runs (6 earned) and 8 hits over 3 2/3 innings.

Porterville wrapped up the day scoring 3 runs off 4 hits to close the series. Ohlone put up 7 unanswered runs to open the game before the Pirates scored twice in the sixth and one final run in the seventh. Justin Turner forced in a run with a bases-loaded walk while an Ohlone error and wild pitch allowed the other two runs to score.

Jorge Medrano went 2 for 2 off the bench to lead PC at the plate. David Jimenez earned the loss despite giving up just 4 runs (3 earned) and 7 hits over 4 innings.

Following the sweep, Porterville fell to 2-14 overall. The Pirates head into Central Valley Conference play this week looking to snap an 11-game losing streak. PC begins a three-game conference series with West Hills College Coalinga on Tuesday (Feb. 18) at 2 p.m. in Coalinga. Game 2 is scheduled for 2 p.m. on Thursday (Feb. 20) in Porterville before heading back to Coalinga for the series finale on Saturday (Feb. 22) at 1 p.m.