Late insurance, steady pitching lift Ventura past Oxnard

A timely two-run seventh inning and a strong start from right-hander Connor Jacobson pushed Ventura past Oxnard 5–4 on Thursday at Pirate Park. Lucas Martinov had a pair of hits and two runs batted in to lead the offense while Brandon Contreras and James Luderer each scored twice. Aiden Nykoluk also recorded two hits on the day.

VC led wire to wire, building a 3–0 advantage with single runs in the first, second and fourth innings before adding what proved to be decisive insurance in the seventh. Oxnard answered with a three-run surge in the top of the eighth to pull within one, but Ventura's bullpen recorded the final four outs to secure the one-run victory.

Martinov delivered the pivotal swing in the bottom of the seventh. With the Pirates nursing a 3–1 lead, Martinov capped the inning with a two-run hit that pushed the margin to 5–1 and ultimately provided the difference. Martinov finished 2-for-4 with a game-high two RBIs as Ventura matched OC with nine hits apiece.

Ventura struck first in the opening frame when Nykoluk drove in a run to give the Pirates a 1–0 lead. Matthew Ramirez added to the advantage with an RBI in the second, and Grant Rodriguez made it 3–0 in the fourth with another run-scoring knock. 

Jacobson set the tone on the mound for VC, allowing just one run over 5 2/3 innings. The right-hander scattered four hits, walked two and struck out two to improve to 2–1 on the season. The Pirates' staff worked around two defensive errors, limiting the Condors to four runs despite nine hits and seven runners left on base.

OC mounted their biggest threat in the top of the eighth, stringing together three runs to trim Ventura's lead to 5–4. Reliever Victor Tostado answered for the Pirates in the ninth, working a scoreless inning with one strikeout to lock down his second save and close out the contest.

Ventura finished with five runs on nine hits, leaving eight runners on base, while OC totaled four runs on nine hits with seven left aboard and no errors.

The Pirates and Condors will finish their three game set on Saturday Mar. 14 in Oxnard.