The VC baseball team earned a season sweep of Moorpark Thursday with a 6-5 extra-inning victory over the Raiders on the road. Brandon Contreras had a pair of doubles and two runs batted in to lead the offense for the Pirates while Tommy Castaneda had a pair of hits with an RBI and a run scored. Cole Blommer picked up the win on the mound with three scoreless innings with a pair of strikeouts in a relief appearance.
The Raiders took the initial advantage with two runs in the bottom of the second.
VC tied the game in the top of the sixth inning. With one out Caden Stillwell doubled and Grant Rodriguez walked. Contreras followed with a two-RBI double to pull the Pirates even at 2-2.
Ventura took advantage of two Moorpark errors to score another run in the top of the seventh. Castaneda reached first on an error that allowed him to go all the way to third. Matthew Ramirez followed by reaching base on another MC error to score Castaneda for a 3-2 VC margin.
Moorpark answered their rough frame with three runs in the bottom half of the seventh, taking a 5-3 lead.
With their backs against the wall, the Pirates rallied in the top of the ninth inning. Frederico Tiburtini started out the at-bat with a pinch hit single, and Jacob Tostado also produced a base hit. Henry Borjas walked to load the bases before Castaneda took one for the team, forcing home a run when he was hit by a pitch. One out later Stillwell hit a sacrifice fly to left field to score Borjas, sending the game to extra innings.
VC manufactured the game-winning run in the top of the 11th. Borjas led off with a walk and Castaneda singled. Ramirez's fly ball out to right moved Borjas to third, and Stillwell was intentionally walked after Castaneda stole second. With the bases loaded and one out, Rodriguez hit a fly ball to center that allowed Borjas to tag from third to score, giving the Pirates the final 6-5 margin.
With their playoff hopes still alive, the Pirates (16-19, 11-9) will host Cuesta on Friday April 18 before traveling to Oxnard on Saturday April 19.