Pirates Break Out for 11-5 Win at Hancock

The VC baseball team broke out with a 15-hit, 11-run effort Tuesday, defeating Allan Hancock 11-5 in Santa Maria. Dylan Jackson, David King and Bryce Elias all had three hits each for Ventura (13-12, 5-7) while Jacob Tostado and Haiden Letzing each had two. Luca Staiano pitched a strong six innings, giving up two runs on five hits to pick up his third victory of the season.

Jackson got Ventura off on the right foot with a two-out solo home run in the top of the first inning.

The Bulldogs answered, however, scoring twice in the bottom half of the frame.

VC broke the game open in the third inning. Elias led off with a single and Tostado followed with a double. One out later Letzing doubles down the right field line to clear the bases and put VC ahead 3-2. Jackson the hit an RBI single to knock in Letzing and Peter Dufau reached base on a fielder's choice. After Aaron McLeod grounded out to first to move the runners ahead 90 feet, King doubled to left center for two more runs for the Pirates, who led 6-2 at the end of the inning.

An Elias triple and a Tostado sacrifice fly added another score to the Pirates' total in the top of the fourth. Then, in the sixth inning, Tostado and Jackson each hit RBI singles to add two more runs for VC.

The Pirates added another two runs in the top of the ninth. Dufau walked to lead things off and AJ Herrera took over as a pinch runner. Herrera moved to second on a passed ball, then went to third on King's single up the middle. Mason Reid hit an RBI single to score Herrera and Elias doubled to score King.

Jackson ended the game with three RBI and Elias doubled and tripled his way to an RBI and three runs scored. King also knocked in two runs and scored once for the Pirates. Ryan Dexter pitched two solid innings in relief and Wilson Spinks finished off the game on the mound for VC.

Ventura will continue the three-game series with Hancock on Thursday April 4 at Pirate Park.