BOX SCORE
The Shepherds fell in a close one to the Ventura County Pirates in the second round of the playoffs by the score of 4-1. Clutch hits and runs were hard to come by as the Shepherds left 15 runners on base in the game.
Each team threatened in the first with runners on third but neither could get a run across as the Sheps got the scoring started in the top of the second. After back to back singles to open the inning, Charlie Pierce would get a single before Rhett Stein earned a bases loaded walk to give the Sheps an early 1-0 lead.
The Sheps threatened with bases loaded in the third and second and third with no outs in the fourth but were unable to capitalize as it was still a hard-fought 1-0 game going into the fifth.
Ventura County was able to squeeze across a run with a single, a walk and another single in the fifth to tie the game and end the Shutout going into the sixth.
The Pirates would continue their scoring in the sixth as they got three runs on three singles and two walks to take the lead for the first time in the game and make it a 4-1 game going into the seventh.
The Pitching was lights out after the seventh as the Pirates were able to stymie the Shepherds and finish out the 4-1 win to move on to the next round.
The Shepherds look to get back on track tomorrow in the consolation bracket against the Arroyo Seco Sentinels at Cal Poly Pomona with first pitch coming at 11 AM. To stay up to date on all things Shepherds baseball follow us on Instagram (@shepherds_baseball), Twitter (@SoCalShpherds), Facebook (Southern California FCA Baseball) and our new Tiktok (@Shepherdsbaseball).