Pirates sweep three-game CVC series from Taft

PORTERVILLE – Jayson Castillo's two-run single in the bottom of the eighth inning proved to be the game-winner for Porterville College in a 7-6 win over visiting Taft College on Saturday. The victory capped a three-game Central Valley Conference sweep of the Cougars.

PC got a walk-off double in bottom of the ninth for a 3-2 win in the series opener at home on Tuesday and followed that with a 7-5 triumph at Taft in Game 2 on Thursday.

Game 1: Porterville 3, Taft 2
Gio Chavez doubled to drive in Tyson Tellez giving the Pirates a walk off 3-2 win against Taft College. In the top of the 9th inning, Taft had an opportunity to take the lead and possibly the win. With the bases loaded and two outs, Rhett Hodgins hit a line drive in the gap that looked like trouble, only to be denied by Hank Allred's diving catch to keep the score tied.

Jonah Ward got the start and threw eight strong innings, giving up two runs on nine hits.  Bradley Cooper (1-0) pitched the ninth inning and got the win.

Chavez went 2 for 4 at the plate with a run scored and the game-winning RBI and Colton Isom was 1 for 4 with an RBI.

Game 2: Porterville 7, Taft 5
Gio Chavez continued his heroics as he smashed a pair of home runs to help lead the Pirates to the win on the road.

Jimmy Martinez set the tone early, leading off the game with a solo home run. Chavez hit a two-run homer in the second and PC took and early 3-0 lead.

Leading 6-5, Chavez added an insurance run with a solo blast in the top of the eighth. He ended the contest 3 for 4 with 3 RBI while Martinez went 3 for 5 with a double to go with his home run.

Louie Torrez earned the win, going seven inning while allowing five runs and eight hits. Nicholas Torres struck out three batters over the final 1.2 inning and earned the save.

Game 3: Porterville 7, Taft 6
Porterville was able to overcome a five-run, sixth-inning rally by Taft to pull out the late win and earn the sweep.

Trailing 6-5 in the bottom of the eighth, Jayson Castillo came through with the clutch, two-out, two-run single to put the Pirates out in front for good.

Jordan Walkup smacked a three-run home run in the fifth while Castillo (2 for 4), Martinez (2 for 4), Julian Nevarez (2 for 4), and Colton Isom (2 for 4) all had two hits.

Braden Parmley earned the win in relief while Jonah Ward picked up the save with a scoreless ninth.

Tuesday's win snapped a seven-game losing skid for the Pirates as they look to add on to their three-game winning streak. PC improved to 7-10 overall and evened up its Central Valley Conference record at 3-3.

Porterville will open a three-game conference series at Merced College on Tuesday (Mar. 4) at 2 p.m. Game 2 is set for Thursday at home with the finale back at Merced on Saturday.