The Pirate baseball team salvaged the final game of a three-game series with Hancock, defeating the Bulldogs 8-2 Saturday at Pirate Park. Starting pitcher Jacob Roa scattered five hits and gave up two runs while striking out three in the complete game win for VC (15-18, 10-8). Matthew Ramirez was 2-4 at the plate with three runs batted in while Henry Borjas also recorded three hits with an RBI and two runs scored.
Ventura took an early lead when Ramirez singled to center to knock in Borjas, who had led off the game with a single.
In the bottom of the second, Caden Stillwell singled, stole second, moved to third on Grant Rodriguez's groundout to second, and scored on Daniel Aguilera's ground ball out to shortstop for a 2-0 Ventura advantage.
The Bulldogs tied the score, however, with two runs in the top of the third inning.
VC went ahead for good in the bottom of the fifth. Jacob Tostado reached base on an error and went to second when Tommy Castaneda hit a one-out single. Ramirez followed with an RBI single for the 3-2 margin for the Pirates.
A four-run sixth inning put the Pirates firmly in control of the game. Stillwell doubled to lead off the frame and Rodriguez sacrifice bunted to the pitcher to move Stillwell to third. Aguilera hit a sacrifice fly to center for the classic manufactured run before VC added three unearned runs to the at-bat. Tostado and Borjas each hit two-out singles and Castaneda reached first on an error to load the bases. The runners moved ahead 90 feet on a wild pitch with Tostado scoring before an error on the catcher allowed Borjas to score on the play, also. Ramirez followed with a single to right field to score Castaneda.
Ventura added a run in the eighth for good measure when Tostado scored from first base on Borjas' double to set the final 8-2 margin.
Stillwell totaled a pair of hits in the game with a double, scoring a pair of runs. Meanwhile, Tostado was 2-4 at the plate with three runs scored.
The Pirates remain in the playoff hunt heading to the final stretch of the season. They are three games behind first place Cuesta and two games behind Santa Barbara and Pierce for second with six conference games remaining. VC next travels to LA Pierce on Tuesday April 15 for a 2:00 pm date with the Brahmas.