Ventura Explodes for 17 Runs to Rout Oxnard

A five-run first inning and an eight-run outburst in the fifth powered Ventura College to a 17-3 road win over Oxnard on Saturday afternoon, capping a dominant offensive performance by the Pirates. Lucas Martinov banged out four hits, including a double and a triple, with five runs batted in and James Luderer had a double and a triple with six RBI to lead the offensive attack. Will Kaczynski pitched five innings and gave up three runs to pick up the win on the mound.

Ventura set the tone immediately with five runs in the top of the first, then answered Oxnard's early push with steady production throughout the middle innings. After the Condors trimmed the deficit to 5-3 in the bottom of the first, the Pirates' offense never relented, adding three runs in the third and breaking the game open with an eight-run fifth to put the contest out of reach. Ventura added a final insurance run in the ninth to close out the scoring.

The Pirates finished with 17 runs on 16 hits while taking advantage of eight walks and four Oxnard errors. Martinov led the way at the top of the order, collecting four hits, scoring four runs and driving in five. He also contributed extra-base power with a double and a triple noted in the game log, consistently setting the table and driving in runs during VC's big innings.

Luderer provided the biggest punch in the middle of the lineup, finishing with six RBIs as part of Ventura's offensive surge. Luderer's production was central to the decisive fifth inning, when the Pirates erupted for eight runs to extend the lead to 16-3. Matthew Ramirez added balance to the attack with two hits, two doubles, two RBIs and two runs scored, giving Ventura another consistent threat in the order as the Pirates piled up 16 RBIs as a team.

On the mound, right-hander Kaczynski settled in after the shaky first to give Ventura valuable length. Kaczynski worked 5.0 innings, allowing three runs on three hits with two walks and three strikeouts. All three runs he surrendered came in the opening frame, but he held Oxnard scoreless the rest of his outing. The Pirates' bullpen finished the job, combining with Kaczynski to limit the Condors to three runs on six hits with five strikeouts overall.

Ventura's defense backed the pitching staff with a clean performance.

The Pirates next travel to Culver City on Tuesday Mar. 17 for a non-conference game at West Los Angeles.