Five-Run First Inning Propels Ventura Past Moorpark, 9-5

A five-run first inning set the tone as Ventura defeated rival Moorpark 9-5 on Thursday afternoon at Pirate Park, riding early offense and a steady bullpen to the Western State Conference victory. Lucas Martinov had a two-RBI single for VC and Nate Lajole also knocked in a pair of runs for the Pirates. Ventura used seven pitchers to shut down the Raiders in the win.

Ventura (9-8, 4-1) sent nine batters to the plate in the bottom of the first, capitalizing on Moorpark miscues and timely hitting to grab a 5-1 lead that it never relinquished. The Pirates later used a three-run surge in the fourth to push the margin to 8-3, giving the pitching staff enough cushion to withstand multiple Moorpark comeback attempts.

Moorpark chipped away with two runs in the top of the third to cut the deficit to 5-3, then added single runs in the seventh and eighth, but Ventura's staff stranded 11 Raiders on base overall. Ventura's defense backed the arms with an efficient afternoon, committing just one error compared with Moorpark's four.

Ventura starter Connor Jacobson worked the first four innings in a bullpen-style approach before turning the ball over to the relief corps. Jacob Cunningham was credited with the win in relief, and Nicholas Tostado closed the door late to earn the save as the Pirates held Moorpark scoreless in the ninth to seal the 9-5 final. The staff limited damage despite 10 Moorpark hits and five walks, repeatedly making key pitches with runners on base.

Offensively, Ventura matched Moorpark with 10 hits but made more of its opportunities, finishing with nine runs and six RBI while drawing six walks and striking out only twice. Lucas Martinov drove in two runs and scored once, helping anchor the middle of the order, while Matthew Ramirez sparked the Pirates' attack with two hits, two runs scored and a stolen base out of the lineup. Ventura added an insurance run in the seventh to move ahead 9-4, padding the lead before Moorpark's final push.

The Pirates and Raiders will complete their three-game set on Saturday Feb. 28 in Moorpark.