Six-Run Inning Propels Ventura Past El Camino

When the clouds parted and the sun came out, the Pirate baseball team found a nice turf field to play on at El Camino and came away with an 8-6 victory over the Warriors. Jacob Tostado had a pair of hits and three runs batted in and Yuki Kawashima hit a key two-RBI single in the six-run third inning to lead Ventura (3-3). Domingo Gaxiola pitched a pair of scoreless innings out of the bullpen to pick up the victory and Jaden Valdez retired the side in the ninth for the save.

VC broke the ice with a pair of runs in the top of the second. Mason Reid led off with a single and Haiden Letzing was hit by a pitch. one out later Ben Drumheller walked to load the bases. After a pop-up for the second out, Tostado delivered the key hit with a two-run single for the 2-0 Ventura edge.

El Camino answered, however, with two runs in the bottom of the column to tie the game.

The Pirates broke the game open in the third inning. Dylan Jackson hit a one-out single and Reid followed with a walk. Letzing singled to left field to score Jackson before an error moved Reid and Jackson ahead 90 feet. Peter Dufau followed with a base on balls to load the diamond before Drumheller hit a two-run double. Kawashima then singled up the middle for two more Ventura runs, then stole second, moving ahead to third on an error. Tostado recorded his third RBI in two innings with a single to score Kawashima for the 8-2 Ventura advantage.

The Warriors scored one run in the third inning, two in the fourth, and another run in the fifth before the VC bullpen took control and threw a combined four scoreless frames.

Ventura travels next to Citrus College in Glendora on Saturday Feb. 10. The Pirates are slated to return home on Thursday Feb. 15.