The VC baseball team scored a run in the top of the ninth inning to squeeze past Irvine Valley 8-7 Thursday afternoon in Irvine. Jacob Tostado's lead-off single in the final frame led to him scoring the game-winning run on Dylan Jackson's squeeze bunt. Aaron McLeod hit a 3-run home run for the Pirates in the fifth. Bryce Zavala had a quality start throwing five innings and scattering six hits while giving up two runs and Harrison Cordeiro pitched the final three innings to record the victory for Ventura (11-12, 4-7).
The Lasers jumped out early with a two-run first inning. VC responded with runs in each of the next three innings.
In the top of the second, Mason Reid was hit by a pitch with one out. David King followed with a walk before Mitchell Collins singled through the right side to score Reid with two outs.
Yuki Kawashima drew a walk to begin the third, and promptly stole second, then advanced to third. Haiden Letzing walked, but was thrown out at second on Jackson's fielder's choice. With one out, McLeod grounded into a 3-6 double play, but Kawashima scored before Letzing was tagged out at second to even the score at 2-2.
The Pirates took the lead on Reid's solo home run to open the top of the fourth, then distanced themselves from IVC with a four-run fifth.
Tostado singled up the middle to begin the big inning and Kawashima sacrificed him to second. Tostado moved to third on a wild pitch before Letzing drew a base on balls. Jackson followed with an RBI single and McLeod had the big swing with a three-run homer to left.
Irvine Valley scored three in the bottom of the sixth, and added two scores in the eighth to tie the game at 7-7 headed to the final frame.
Tostado led off the final frame with a single and moved to second on Kawashima's walk. Letzing bunted the runners ahead 90 feet before Jackson delivered the game-winning ground ball out to first that scored Tostado.
Cordeiro struck out the final batter in the bottom of the ninth with the potential game-tying run at first to complete the triumph for Ventura.
Reid ended the day with a pair of hits, including his home run, and two runs scored while Tostado also recorded a pair of hits with two runs scored, including the game-winner. Jackson had a pair of RBI in the game.
The Pirates will make a quick turnaround, hosting Citrus on Friday March 29 at 2:30 pm at Pirate Park.