Cuesta Baseball had its original 2026 Western State Conference opener pushed back to Saturday, due to rain, so the Cougars began conference play at home today.  Cuesta hosted the Oxnard Condors and scored in the first inning, when all-WSC Shortstop AJ Martinez crossed the plate on Third Baseman Hank Hansen's Double.  The Cougars narrow lead remained intact, until the 4th inning, when they added to it.  The Cougars plated a pair of runs in the 4th on Second Baseman Jarom Damery's Two-run Homer and boosted their lead to 5-0 on Hansen's sacrifice fly in the 5th, however the Cougars' game was defined by its pitching.  Cuesta Starter Brady Rea cruised through the Condors' batting order three times, before handing the game to the bullpen after the stretch.  Rea authored seven innings of shutout ball, while allowing only two hits.  The Condors' bats finally came alive, after Rea sat down, and they cut the Cougars' lead in half with a pair of runs in the 8th inning.  In the 9th, Oxnard had the bases loaded with two outs, when the Cougars installed Reliever Benjamin Straw on the mound to close the game.   Straw coaxed a fielder's choice to Hansen, at Third Base, to preserve Rea's second victory, 4-2, and earn his staff-leading second save of the season. The Cougars are currently 7-7 on the season and 1-0 in WSC play.    

The Cougars and Condors shall continue their series in Oxnard tomorrow with a doubleheader, which includes a make-up for Tuesday's rainout. The twinbill is set for 11 AM and 1 PM.  The first game is scheduled for seven innings, unless it is tied at the end of seven innings.  If so, the game will be played out and the second game will be scheduled for seven innings.