Traveling to Woodland Hills on a gray misty day the Ventura College baseball team downed Los Angeles Pierce 7-4. Zachary Martirano went 7.1 innings allowing four runs on nine hits with four strikeouts for his second win of the season. Ryan Coker had a two rbi single. The Pirates offense managed just six hits, but they drew 11 walks in the game, including three by Tony Fonzo.
Ventura (9-7, 4-3) was coming off a win over rival Moorpark in their last game on the road and looked to win their seventh road contest of the season. VC fell behind 3-0 after the first three innings as Pierce scored solo runs in each of the first three frames. Ventura answered in the fourth with four runs on the strength of six walks in the inning. They increased the advantage to 5-3 after the top of the six, but the Brahamas answered with one in the bottom of the frame for a 5-4 score. The Pirates were able to get breathing room in the ninth when Fonzo lead off with a walk and scored on a Bryson Wallet sacrifice bunt which the LAP pitcher threw away and then Wallet was able to score as part of a double steal to give the Pirates a 7-4 advantage. VC held off the Brahamas in the bottom half for the win.
Adisson Pelupessy earned his fourth save of the season as he entered the game in the bottom of the eighth inning with two outs and retired the last hitter of the inning then all three hitters of the bottom of the ninth for a four out save. Pelupessy allowed one hit and one walk with one strikeout to close the game. Brison Cronenbold had an rbi single. Joey Sunia added a double, a run scored and one rbi on a bases loaded walk one of two walks on the day for him.
Ventura will play host to Pierce on Tuesday Mar. 6 for a 2:00 pm game. They will then play host to Cuesta College on Thursday Mar. 8 for a 2:00 pm game. Each contest is a Western State Conference North game.