Catcher Shane Gipson had a three hits, including a home run and a double, and four runs batted in to lead the Pirate baseball team to a 10-2 victory at Los Angeles Valley College Thursday. Fabian De La Barcena also knocked out three hits, including a pair of doubles, with two runs scored and two RBI as Ventura (14-13, 4-4) posted its third straight win and seventh triumph in its last 10 outings.
VC took an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning as Rudy Aguilar singled in Steele Ledford, who led off the game with a base hit and a stolen base.
The Monarchs then scored single runs in the second and fourth inning to take a 2-1 advantage.
The Pirates retook the lead in the top of the fifth inning. With two outs, Aguilar singled, then scored on De La Barcena's double. Gipson followed with his two-run home run and Ventura went ahead for good, 4-2.
Ventura added to the advantage with four more runs in the sixth. AJ Medrano led off with a single, and advanced to second on a ground out. TJ Foreman knocked out an RBI single, and also moved into scoring position on another ground out. Dayton Provost had an RBI double, and moved to third on Aguilar's single. De La Barcena followed with base hit to score Provost, then Gipson singled in Aguilar for an 8-2 Pirate advantage.
Back-to-back doubles from De La Barcena and Gipson, and a two-out RBI double from Ethan Balolong-Reyes gave VC a pair of insurance runs and set the final margin at 10-2.
Taylor Goffena got the start on the mound, throwing five complete innings, scattering seven hits and allowing two runs. Austin Nicholson finished the job with four scoreless innings, giving up just one hit.
VC closes the week with a contest at Orange Coast College on Saturday March 31. First pitch in Costa Mesa is scheduled for 12:00 pm.