Big Seventh Inning Enough For Ventura Win at Oxnard

It only took one inning, one big inning. The Pirate baseball team scored six runs in the top of the seventh inning to post a 6-2 victory at Oxnard College on Tuesday. AJ Medrano and Junior Sandoval continued their clutch hitting with two runs batted in each while Medrano, Ethan Balolong and Gabe Baldovino all recorded two hits in the win. Travis Weston pitched six scoreless innings and was credited with the win for the Pirates (11-8, 3-1), who have now won three straight.

Both starting pitchers pitched six complete innings of scoreless baseball. Weston allowed just two hits against the Condors while the VC offense managed three base knocks over that time. When Oxnard went to the bullpen, however, it was a different story.

The Pirates erupted for six runs on seven hits with one error in the top of the seventh inning, sending 11 batters to the plate. Balolong got things started with a lead-off single, then Jacob Harris reached base on catcher's interference. Jacob Martinez got to first on a fielder's choice before TJ Foreman singled to laod the bases. Baldovino followed with an RBI single and Medrano knocked in two with his base hit. Zane Chittenden had a base hit to re-load the diamond before Sandoval had a clutch 2-RBI single. After the second out of the inning, Balolong came back up and singled in another run as the Pirates held a 6-0 lead at the seventh-inning stretch.

The Ventura bullpen handled business from there, giving up just two late runs to preserve the 6-2 victory.

VC's next outing is at Pirate Park on Thursday march 14. The Pirates host Moorpark for a 2:30 pm contest.