Pirates Score Double Figures For Sweep of Condors

The Pirate baseball team scored in double-figures for the third consecutive game Saturday to defeat Oxnard 12-6 to complete the three-game sweep of the Condors. Garrick Levesque and JR Godinez each knocked in three runs and scored another while Ramon Torres and Julien Monks each recorded two RBI in the triumph. Cooper Smith pitched into the sixth inning, yielding four runs on eight hits to pick up the victory on the mound.

Oxnard got on the board with four runs on six hits in the bottom of the second. After that, however, Smith settled in to scatter a pair of hits over the next 3.2 innings setting up the stage for a Pirate comeback.

In the top of the fourth, Torres, Andrew Savage and Monks all singled consecutively as VC got on the board.

Ventura plated another two runs in the fifth inning. Godinez was hit by a pitch to lead off the frame and John Oleson followed an out later with a single, moving to second on a throw to third attempting to put out Godinez. Torres followed with a two-RBI single and VC closed the gap to 4-3.

The Pirates knotted the score with another run in the top of the sixth. Nick Schnopp led off and stole second, moving to third on a wild pitch, three batters and two outs later, Oleson singled Schnopp home to tie the score at four.

VC exploded for eight runs in the seventh and eight innings to take full control of the game. Savage opened the seventh with a single and Monks reached base on an error. Schnopp walked to load the diamond and Levesque made it to first on another error, scoring Savage. Godinez hit into a fielder's choice that scored Monks, then stole second while Schnopp stole home for another run. The Pirates led 7-4 at the end of the frame.

In the eighth, Casey Turturici doubled and Torres was hit by a pitch. After a pitching change Savage also reached via a HBP to load the bases, followed by Monks' sacrifice fly to plate Turturici. Schnopp walked to re-load the bases and Levesque had a clutch two-run single. After Levesque stole second, Godinez delivered a two-RBI single for a 12-5 Ventura lead.

The Condors scored an inconsequential run in the bottom of the ninth to set the final margin.

 Anthony Betancourt finished the sixth inning on the mound for Ventura and Max Flame finished the game, giving up a pair of runs over the final three innings.

The Pirates (11-8, 3-3) will open a three-game set with Santa Barbara beginning Tuesday March 8 at Pirate Park.