Playing host to Los Angeles Pierce the Ventura College baseball team found a way to rally back for a 7-2 win. Nate Green went seven innings allowing six hits and two runs (one earned) with six strikeouts in a no decision. Robert Stephan had two hits including a two rbi triple and scored one run. Adisson Pelupessy added a two rbi single. Joey Contreras earned the win with a scoreless inning of relief.
Ventura (10-7, 4-2) was on the hunt to extend back to back wins into a three game winning streak. Their opportunity looked bleak as after seven and a half innings of play the Pirates trailed 2-0 after Pierce scored solo runs in the fifth and sixth innings.
When LAP went to their bullpen to start the eighth inning VC came alive offensively started with a flyball single lost in the sun. Ventura utilized their early luck in the eighth to plate seven runs with Evyn Yamaguchi forcing in a run with a bases loaded walk, Ryan Coker forced in another with a bases loaded walk. Then Pelupessy ripped a fastball down the leftfield line for a two rbi single. When Coker was forced on a fielders choice to left field after the diving attempt did not result in a catch, Stephan worked a full count and drove a triple over the head of the right fielder. Then Tony Fonzo who had been walked in two of his four plate appearances drove an rbi single to left and VC had a 7-2 advantage.
Tyler Esquivel enter the game in the ninth and pitched a clean frame as the Pirates clinched the win. His inning backed up Contreras who stranded the bases loaded in the eighth to pick up his first win of the year after Green pitched the Pirates into the opportunity to rally back.
Ventura collected just seven hits, but they used nine walks to help propel their offensive attack. Fonzo topped the Pirates with two walks, five of the nine Pirates starters drew a walk and four players off the bench picked up walks.
Ventura will return to the Pirate Baseball Complex on Thursday Mar. 10 for a 2:00 pm contest against Cuesta. Then they will travel to San Luis Obispo on Saturday Mar. 12 for a 1:00 pm WSC game.