The VC baseball team plated runs in eight of its nine at bats Saturday in posting a 14-9 victory over Citrus at Pirate Park. John Oleson was 3-5, including a double, with three runs scored and a run batted in while Casey Turturici had three hits, two doubles, with three RBI and a run scored. Reiss Calvin hit a triple and a single with four RBI and a run scored as the Pirates pounded out 16 base hits against the Owls on the afternoon. Cooper Smith pitched into the sixth inning and Dawson Radik threw 3.2 innings of relief to pick up the win.
The Pirates scored once in the first inning when Turturici singled home JR Godinez, and once in the second on KJ Moo-Young's RBI single to score Julien Monks.
After Citrus tied the score in the top of the third inning, VC responded with two more run in the bottom half of the column. Oleson singled to lead off the frame and moved to second on a passed ball. Turturici followed with an RBI double. One out later, Ramon Torres singled Turturici home and Ventura led 4-2.
The Pirates gave up two more runs in the top of the fourth, and failed to score in the bottom of the inning. The teams were tied 4-4 headed to the bottom of the fifth when Oleson singled and Turturici hit an RBI double for the second time in three frames.
Citrus plated a pair of runs in the top of the sixth to take a 6-5 lead before VC answered with four runs in the bottom of the sixth to take over the game. Andrew Savage singled and Monks reached base on an error. Moo-Young then moved the runners ahead with a ground ball out. After a pop-up for the second out Calvin hit a two-RBI single and Oleson followed with an RBI double. Oleson stole third, and scored a batter later on a passed ball for a 9-6 Ventura edge.
One inning later, VC extended its advantage with another four-spot on the board. Savage and pinch hitter Garrick Levesque were both hit by a pitch and Godinez hit an RBI single. Calvin next cleared the bases with a two-RBI triple, then scored on a balk.
The Pirates scored an insurance run in the eighth when Torres and Savage hit back-to-back doubles for the 14-9 win.
Ventura begins Western State Conference play on Tuesday Feb. 22 hosting Cuesta at 2:00 pm.