Pirate pitchers combine on one-hitter as VC edges Rio Hondo

The VC baseball team rode dominant pitching and a first-inning sacrifice fly to a 1-0 win over Rio Hondo on Saturday afternoon at Pirate Park, as Will Kaczynski, Ezekiel Savage and Victor Tostado combined on a one-hitter on the mound. Brandon Contreras knocked in the only VC run of the day while Matthew Ramirez had a pair of hits, including a double. Aiden Nykoluk reached base on an error, eventually scoring the game's lone run.

The only score of the game came in the bottom of the first inning and the Pirates made it stand the rest of the way. Nykoluk led off the game by reaching base on an error and moved to third on Ramirez's double. Contreras delivered a run-scoring sacrifice fly to push Ventura in front 1-0. That swing proved decisive in a game where both pitching staffs settled in and runs were at a premium.

On the mound, Ventura starter Kaczynski set the tone with six no-hit innings. The right-hander faced Rio Hondo's lineup with efficiency, needing just 58 pitches while striking out two and not issuing a walk. Kaczynski kept traffic off the bases and allowed the Pirates' defense to work behind him, preserving the slim one-run lead through six complete frames.

Savage cam out of the bullpen to begin the seventh inning, recording two outs and giving up one hit before V. Tostado closed the door with 2.1 scoreless innings to record the save. He did not allow a hit, struck out two and finished off the combined one-hitter after taking over with two outs in the seventh. The Roadrunners finished the afternoon with just one hit, four strikeouts and no walks, stranding four baserunners as Ventura's pitchers and defense controlled the tempo.

Offensively, Ventura produced eight hits but could not add insurance, leaving eight runners on base. Ramirez led the Pirates with a 2-for-4 day that included a double, helping Ventura apply steady pressure throughout the contest. Contreras went 0-for-3 officially on the stat line, but had a sacrifice to deliver the game's lone run batted in.

The Pirates (4-5) next travel to Irvine Valley on Tuesday Feb. 10.