Smith Shuts Down Condors in 14-2 Pirate Win

VC pitcher Cooper Smith allowed one hit through seven complete innings of work, striking out seven and walking one as the Pirate baseball team ran away from Oxnard Thursday. Reiss Calvin and Mason Reid each homered and Aaron McLeod had four runs batted in for Ventura (8-12, 4-4) as they claimed their second straight against the Condors.

Smith was nails on the mound, only allowing three baserunners in his seven innings of work, an an error in the first, on a two-out walk in the second, and a fifth inning single. He struck out seven in the outing and retired 16 of the final 17 batters he faced, including the final nine.

Offensively, the Pirates scored four runs in the top of the second and never looked back. McLeod had a two-RBI double in the frame, scoring Haiden Letzing and Andrew Savage and Connor Hickey added an RBI double to score McLeod. Calvin had an RBI with a groundout scoring Gage Allen.

McLeod then hit a sacrifice fly in the third inning to score Reid for a 5-0 advantage.

The Pirates broke the game open with four runs in the fourth. Calvin's two-run bomb knocked in Allen, and Reid hit a two-run homer to score Yuki Kawashima.

Ventura emphasized the victory with five more runs in the top of the fifth inning. Caden Stillwell led off with a single and Allen was hit by a pitch. One out later, Calvin reached base on a fielder's choice to put runners on the corners with two down and Kawashima walked to load the diamond. Reid walked in a run before Letzing hit a two-RBI double. Reid then scored on a passed ball before McLeod singled home Letzing.

VC led 14-0 before allowing a pair of runs in the bottom of the eighth inning. Christian Herrera came on to pitched a scoreless ninth to close the 14-2 decision.

The Pirates are set to close the series with the COndors, weather permitting, on Saturday March 11 at 12:00 pm at Pirate Park.