The Pirate baseball team battled its way to an 8-5 win over Oxnard Monday, sweeping the rain-delayed three-game series over the Condors. Connor Hickey had three hits, including a triple and pair of doubles, with two runs scored and a run batted in and Mason Reid was 2-4 with two RBI. Logan Knight came on in relief and pitched five innings, giving up two runs, one earned, while striking out five to pick up the win.
VC (9-12, 5-4) jumped out to the initial lead of the game with a two-run second inning. Andrew Savage led off the inning with a single and Caden Stillwell walked on out later. Gage Allen flied out to move Savage to third base. Stillwell then stole second and Savage scored on an error on the play before Hickey hit an RBI-double to score Stillwell.
The Condors responded with two runs in the top of the third to knot the game at 2-2.
Ventura went ahead for good in the bottom of the fifth. Hickey doubled and Reiss Calvin moved him to third with a groundball out to second. Yuki Kawashima walked and stole second before Reid hit both baserunners in with a single to center.
The Pirates then took full control with three scores in the sixth inning. Aaron McLeod led off with a double before Stillwell attempted a sacrifice bunt and reached base on a throwing error by the pitcher. McLeod scored on the play and Stillwell moved all the way to third. Allen then hit a sacrifice fly to score Stillwell. Hickey followed with a triple and came home to score on Calvin's single for a 7-2 Pirate advantage.
Savage opened up the seventh reaching base on a HBP and Matthew Beach had a pinch-hit double to put two runners in scoring position. Stillwell followed with an RBI single for an insurance run for the Pirates and an 8-2 lead.
Oxnard came back with a run in the eight and two scores in the ninth, before Livio Bundi came on to retire the final batter and pick up the save for VC. The Pirates held on for the 8-5 win to sweep the series.
The rainy weather has already moved VC's series opener at Santa Barbara. The Pirates will host the Vaqueros to open the set on Thursday March 16 before heading up the 101 for games on Friday and Saturday, March 17 and 18.