The VC baseball team used a five-run second inning to propel them to a 10-3 victory over visiting College of the Desert Friday afternoon in non-conference action at Pirate Park. Zane Chittenden delivered the big hit in the decisive frame, a two-out, two-run single, while TJ Foreman continued his strong play with a single and a double, two runs scored and an RBI for Ventura (18-12, 9-5). Tommy Jamieson picked up the victory on the mound with two scoreless innings of relief following three strong frames from starter Sal Delgado.
Junior Sandoval got things started in the second inning with a lead-off single. Sam Langler was hit by a pitch and Ethan Balolong singled to load the bases with no outs. Conor Mormon drew a walk to score a run and, one out later, Foreman singled home another score. With two outs, Balolong scored on a passed ball, then Chittenden delivered the clutch two-RBI hit to make it 5-0 for the Pirates.
COD scored one run in the top of the third inning before Balolong hit a sacrifice fly to score Sandoval in the bottom half of the frame.
The Pirates scored a pair of unearned runs in the bottom of the sixth inning, and plated two more in the eighth. Hunter Klingelhoffer singled and Foreman doubled to start the eighth inning, and Klingelhoffer scored on an error on the first baseman following a pop-out. Sam Silverya followed with an RBI single as the Pirates scored double-digit runs for the second straight day and for the sixth time this season.
The Roadrunners scored twice in the ninth inning to set the final 10-3 margin.
Balolong and Mormon each scored two runs in the game for the Pirates with one RBI each, while Foreman, Gabe Baldovino, AJ Medrano and Silverya each had one run batted in.
Delgado yielded one earned run in three innings of work in the start. Ryker Kennepohl, Tony Contrereas and Miles Minier all had a scoreless inning of relief on the mound.
Ventura resumes Western State Conference North Division play on Saturday April 6 at home against Moorpark. First pitch at Pirate Park is scheduled for 1:00 pm.