For the second straight day, the Pirate baseball team used a big second inning to take control, scoring eight runs in the second frame against visiting Moorpark on Saturday on their way to a 14-4 victory. The win coupled with a Cuesta loss to Santa Barbara moved the Pirates (19-12, 10-5) into sole possession of first place in the Western State Conference North Division. TJ Foreman was 3-5 at the plate, including a double, with three runs scored and two runs batted in while Riley Langerman also had three hits. Zane Chittenden and Jacob Martinez combined efforts for the win on the mound.
The Pirates sent 12 batters to the plate in the second inning to take a commanding 8-1 lead. Chittenden led things off with a walk,then moved to third on successive wild pitches. One out later, Baylor Tovar singled Chittenden home. Tovar then moved to third on a wild pitch and a balk, and came home on Ethan Balolong's single. Langerman followed with a one-base hit, and after the second out, Foreman had an RBI single before stealing second. Gabe Baldovino knocked in two runs with a double, and AJ Medrano had an RBI single. Chittenden singled home Medrano and Junior Sandoval tripled as Chittenden scored his second run of the frame.
After Moorpark scored one run in the fifth inning, Ventura came back with another score in the bottom of the sixth. Foreman led off with a double and stole third, and Medrano hit a sacrifice fly one out later.
After another Raider score in the seventh, VC plated five runs in the bottom half of the inning. Balolong, Hunter Klingelhoffer, Foreman, Baldovino and Medrano all knocked in runs as the Pirates completely blew the game open.
Balolong had a pair of hits with two runs scored and one RBI while Tovar also had two hits with a run batted in and a run scored. Medrano totaled two hits with two RBI and a run scored.
Chittenden started on the mound and completed five innings, giving up two runs, one earned, while scattering four hits. Martinez came on to pitch the final four frames, giving up two earned runs on just three hits.
The Pirates begin a big week on the schedule on Tuesday April 9 at Moorpark. First pitch is scheduled for 2:30 pm.