Its been a long road to start the season for the Pirates, literally. VC played its 10th and final road game to start the season Saturday, defeating Pasadena City College 7-2. Elijah Alexander had three hits, including a pair of doubles, with two runs scored and an RBI for Ventura (6-4) and Bryson Wallet also banged out three hits with a double, a runs scored and one RBI. Justin Friedman threw five solid innings, scattering five hits and allowing one unearned run with four strikeouts.
The Pirates took the early 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning. Alexander led off with a single to right field, and Kaden Betsch was hit by a pitch. With two outs, Chris McKee brought Alexander in to score with a single to left.
VC gave up an unearned run in the bottom half of the frame to even the score at 1-1.
Ventura scored once in the third to take the lead for good. Blake Chiaramonte walked and Wallet singled, followed by an Alexander RBI double.
The Pirates added two runs in the fifth inning on Betsch's double, scoring Alexander and Wallet and the Pirates led 4-1.
The Pirates added two more runs in the sixth inning and one in the eighth, and allowed the Lancers to score one run in the bottom of the seventh in posting the 7-2 victory.
Chiaramonte had three hits and two runs scored in the win. Rodolfo Aguilar had a pair of hits with a run scored and an RBI and McKee recorded two hits with a run scored, a stolen base and an RBI.
Dylan Francis gave up one run in two innings of relief on the mound, striking out two, and Charlie Brooks had two hitless innings with a pair of punch outs.
The Pirates will make their long-awaited return to Pirate Park on Tuesday Feb. 28 against Los Angeles Pierce. First pitch is scheduled for 2:00 pm.