The VC baseball team lost a 3-2 heartbreaker in walk-off fashion in the first game at Moorpark Thursday before pounding the hosts 10-1 in the nightcap to split a twin-bill in non-conference action. JR Godinez had a pair of hits and scored a run in game 1 while Max Baldaccini had a pair of hits, including a grand slam home run, knocking in five runs in the second contest.
Ventura 2, Moorpark 3
The Pirates scored twice in the top of the first inning, and despite a strong pitching performance from starter Max Flame, VC could not make the margin stand, falling in walk-off fashion in the bottom of the ninth. Flame allowed one run in 4.2 innings, giving up just one hit and walking three while recording seven strikeouts.
Ventura put the pressure on in the opening frame. Anthony Arancibia-Mundy was hit by a pitch to open the game and Godinez followed with a single. One out later Anthony Chavez walked to load the bases before Baldaccini hit a sacrifice fly to score the Pirates' first run. A double-steal later, Casey Turturici singled in another run as VC led 2-0.
Flame held the lead on the mound through his exit in the bottom of the fifth inning, but the Ventura offense stagnated, recording just five singles in the final eight innings. The Raiders scored once in the fifth and once in the sixth before plating the game-winner in the bottom of the ninth.
Ventura 10, Moorpark 1
Ventura did some damage in the 7-inning nightcap with their 10-1 victory. The Pirates scored once in the second frame, and followed with four runs in both the third and fourth innings to put the game away. Moorpark scored once in the sixth and Ventura followed with another run in the seventh.
Chavez was hit by a pitch to lead off the second, and moved to third base one out later on Ramon Torres' single. Garrick Levesque recorded an RBI on a ground-out and VC was ahead 1-0.
In the next frame, Elijah Maris singled and stole second , moving to third base on Arancibia's single. Arancibia then stole second before Godinez grounded out to second base for an RBI. Chase McBean followed with an RBI single, and promptly stole second. Chavez reached on a fielder's choice with McBean advancing to third before Baldaccini had an RBI double. Torres finished up the scoring with a sacrifice fly to center field to make it 5-0 for Ventura.
Maris singled to lead off the fourth, and one out later, Godinez drew a base on balls. after another out, Chavez was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Baldaccini cleared the diamond with a shot over the fence and VC was ahead 9-0.
Moorpark scored once in the sixth before Noel Garcia doubled home Chavis Conceicao in the final inning to set the winning margin.
Jake Read had a strong outing on the mound, pitching five scoreless frames, allowing just four hits while recording five strikeouts.
The Pirates next travel to Allan Hancock College for a double-header on Saturday April 17. First pitch is slated for 12:00 pm in Santa Maria.