Cuesta Baseball reached double digits for the third straight game as they held off Santa Barbara, 17-13, in the first of their three games this week.  The Cougars and Vaqueros shared the 2025 Western State Conference Title last season; while over the past six seasons they have each won two titles outright and also shared a pair of crowns.  Today, after two scoreless innings, the Vaqueros scored two runs in the 3rd-inning to take the first lead of the game, but the Cougars pounded nine hits and collected ten runs in the bottom of the frame and never trailed again.  Santa Barbara posted four runs in both the 6th and 7th innings to close the gap, 13-11, but RBI-singles from both AJ Martinez and Hank Hansen put the game out of reach, 17-13. The teams combined for 30 runs and shuffled through 14 pitchers during the contest with Dylan Leoff and Benjamin Straw securing the win and a save, respectively, for the Cougars.  On the offensive side,  Hansen and his opposite number on the Vaqueros, Sean Asperger, both connected for a game-high four hits, while Hansen also joined his teammate Jak Sinclair and Santa Barbara's William Matuszak with 4-RBI each.  The win moved the Cougars' record to 10-7 on the season and 4-0 against the WSC. 

 

The Cougars and Vaqueros will play at Santa Barbara's Pershing Park on Thursday (2 PM) and complete the week back at Cuesta on Saturday (1 PM)