Pirates Split Two-Game Set with LA Mission

The VC baseball team split a two-game series with Los Angeles Mission Thursday and Saturday, falling to the Eagles in the opener at Pirate Park before defeating LAMC Saturday in Sylmar. James Luderer scored six runs in the two games, including four in Saturday's win, while Matthew Ramirez totaled six hits. Brandon Contreras had four hits against the Eagles, including a home run, with five runs batted in and three runs scored.

In Thursday's home game, the Pirates built a four-run lead behind steady offense and a strong start from right-hander Connor Jacobson, but Mission scored seven times over the final three innings to prevail 9-6.

VC led 6-2 through six innings before LAMC mounted its comeback. The Eagles pushed across three runs in the seventh to pull within 6-5, then took the lead for good with two runs in the eighth and added two more insurance runs in the ninth.

Jacobson gave Ventura a quality start and put the Pirates in position to win. The right-hander worked 6 2/3 innings, allowing just four hits while striking out seven. Only one of the five runs charged to him was earned as Ventura's defense faltered late.

Ventura struck first in the bottom of the first inning when Luderer drove in the game's opening run for a 1-0 lead. After the Eagles answered with two runs in the third, Ventura responded in the fourth and fifth. Grant Rodriguez delivered an RBI in the fourth to pull Ventura even at 2-2, and in the fifth the Pirates plated two more runs — including an RBI double from Contreras — to seize a 4-2 advantage.

The Pirates extended the margin in the sixth, pushing across two runs to make it 6-2, with Cole Howard contributing to the rally as Ventura seemed to take control of the game. Luderer finished with two runs scored and an RBI, helping pace a Ventura lineup that also worked three walks.

VC rode a five-run first inning and a relentless lineup to a 16-4 road win over Mission Saturday.

The Pirates seized control immediately, sending a message with five runs in the top of the first to take a 5-0 lead they never relinquished. VC added single runs in the second, third, fourth and fifth innings, then broke the game completely open with three runs in the eighth and four more in the ninth. Ventura finished with 16 runs on 14 hits while taking advantage of four Eagle errors to turn the contest into a lopsided decision.

Ramirez anchored the Ventura offense with a standout performance at the plate, going 5-for-6 with three RBIs and three runs scored out of the lineup. Contreras provided the biggest swing of the day, delivering a two-run home run as part of a two-hit, four-RBI effort while scoring three times. Luderer was a constant presence on the bases, reaching safely multiple times on three walks, scoring four runs and swiping two bases to pressure LA Mission's defense throughout the game.

Ventura's early outburst set the tone in the first inning, where Ramirez, Contreras and Luderer all factored into the scoring as the Pirates quickly built a 5-0 cushion. Ventura kept adding on, pushing the lead to 8-1 by the fourth inning and 9-4 after the fifth. LA Mission's best push came in the bottom of the fifth, when the hosts scored three runs to cut the deficit to 9-4, but that was as close as they would get.

Any hope of a Mission comeback faded late as Ventura's lineup continued to apply pressure. The Pirates plated three runs in the eighth to extend the margin to 12-4, then closed the door with a four-run ninth. Contreras again figured prominently in the final surge, driving in key runs, while Daniel Banuelos and Mario Franco added RBIs to cap the scoring. VC finished with three doubles, a home run and five stolen bases, stranding 10 runners but still converting enough chances to post a double-digit margin.

On the mound, Will Kaczynski earned the win for Ventura, working 4 2/3 innings and allowing six hits and four runs. He received substantial run support but worked through traffic against an LA Mission offense that collected 11 hits and left 10 runners on base. Dane Holt closed the game with a scoreless inning to record the save, finishing off a staff effort that protected the Pirates' sizable lead. 

Ventura (14-13, 7-5) resumes Western State Conference play on Tuesday Mar. 24. They will host Santa Barbara in the first of a three-game set at Pirate Park before traveling for the final two games of the series later in the week.