Ventura College baseball team opened up their Western State Conference North schedule with a home game against Allan Hancock. After a week of offensive based wins, the Pirates relied on their pitching and defense to pick up a 2-1 victory. Starter Nate Green pitched into the eighth inning allowing one run on five hits with seven strikeouts. Tony Fonzo collected two more hits with Joey Sunia adding two hits including a double. Ryan Coker had an RBI single.
Ventura (7-3, 1-0) entered the game as one of the top run scoring offenses in California junior college baseball, but on this day it found a way to win without pouring on the runs. Ventura knocked out eight hits in the game, but just one with a runner in scoring position when Coker drove in Erick Allegro with a two RBI single in the second inning. Following a Sunia single and Coker reaching base on a dropped third strike, Adisson Pelupessy dropped down a bunt which the Hancock pitcher was unable to throw accurately to first base as Sunia raced home with the Pirates second run in the seventh inning. Green retired one hitter in the eighth inning, but after back to back hits the Pirates removed him from the game for closer Pelupessy. Pelupessy closed out the game for a five out save his second of the season allowing no hits and a walk.
Bryson Wallet added a single with TJ Durfee and Brison Cronenbold both picking up base hits. Ventura left seven runners on base in the game.
Ventura will now travel to Hancock on Tuesday Feb. 23 for a 2:00 pm contest. Then they will return home for two non-conference match-ups first with Pasadena City College on Thursday Feb. 25 at 2:00 pm and then again on Saturday Feb. 27 for a 1:00 pm game against Citrus College.