For the second game in a row, the Pirate baseball team used a big inning to break up a pitcher's dual, propelling the team to victory. Thursday, VC (12-8, 4-1) used a six-run seventh inning to break open a 1-1 tie with visiting Moorpark, coasting to the 7-3 win, Ventura's fourth straight triumph. Zane Chittenden delivered the big blow, a 2-RBI double in the seventh as he finished the game with two hits, three runs batted in and a run scored. Brent Dickey picked up the win with a scoreless inning of relief in support of Jackson Hickert, who pitched six complete, giving up one run on five hits.
The Raiders took the early lead with a run in the top of the first inning, but the Pirates responded quickly. TJ Foreman led off with a single and a stolen base, and moved to third on Gabe Baldovino's groundout to the right side of the infield. One out later, Chittenden delivered a two-out single to score Foreman to tie the game at 1-1.
Hickert and the Moorpark starter matched zero's on the board for the next five plus innings before VC broke things open after the seventh inning stretch. Ethan Balolong singled and stole second to open the frame, followed with a walk by Conor Mormon. After a pitching change, Hunter Klingelhoffer had a pinch-hit single to load the bases. Another pitching change and one out later, Baldovino had an RBI single, and that was followed by a base hit by AJ Medrano to score another run before a third possible run was ginned down at the plate. Chittenden then delivered the big blow, a two-run double, followed with base hits by Junior Sandoval and Baylor Tovar. Ventura led 7-1 before the end of the frame.
The Raiders scored single runs in each of the final two innings, but it was not enough to overcome the big inning as VC posted the 7-3 victory.
Sandoval had two hits, including a double, with one run scored and an RBI while Baldovino, Medrano and Tovar each had one hit with one run batted in.
Hickert had a solid outing on the mound, striking out four and scattering five hits over six complete. After Dickey's scoreless seventh, Noah Bullard, Christian Herrera and Sal Delgado shared mop-up duties with Delgado earning the save.
Ventura next travels to Moorpark for a 1:00 pm game on Saturday March 16.