Justin Friedman pitched six strong innings, giving up two runs and four hits with eight strikeouts, and Taylor Campos picked up a two-RBI double i the fourth inning to put VC ahead, and struck out the side in the ninth inning for the save as Ventura defeated Oxnard 4-2 Thursday afternoon. Seven different Pirates recorded a hit, and four different players scored runs as Ventura (10-5, 2-0) sweeps a two game set with the Condors.
Oxnard took the early lead with single runs in the first and second innings. VC came back to tie with two scores in the top of the third.
Shane Gipson led off the inning with a walk and advanced to second base on a pass ball. With one out, Chris McKee reached base on an error as Gipson went to third base. Then Gipson scored on another error, and McKee cam around to score as well.
The Pirates took the lead in the fourth inning with a pair of runs. Brendan Griffith and Bryson Wallet led off the inning with singles, and Elijah Alexander sacrificed them to second and third with one out. Campos then came through with the clutch hit, a two-RBI single to put VC ahead.
The pitching staff made the lead hold up , as Friedman was relieved in the seventh by Brent Dickey and Kodi Koorndyk. Jackson Hickert threw a scoreless eighth and Campos came on for his first save of the season.
Ventura will next host Moorpark on Saturday March 11. First pitch at Pirate Park is slated for 1:00 pm.