The Pirate baseball team scored four runs in the top of the first, and three more in the fourth inning to win their seventh straight game, 7-4 at Moorpark on Tuesday. Jake Read threw into the eighth inning with an outstanding start on the mound, giving up four runs, two earned, and striking out a pair to pick up the win. Casey Turturici had a pair of hits, knocked in two runs and scored two more and JR Godinez recorded two hits with a run scored in the victory for the VC (16-13, 11-5).
Reiss Calvin had two hits in the game and scored twice while Nick Schnopp and Andrew Savage each recorded two RBI in the game.
Ventura got off to a fast start in the top of the first. With one out, Calvin singled and John Oleson reached base on an error. Turturici followed with an RBI double and Schnopp hit a two-RBI single. Schnopp then stole second and advanced to third on a throwing error before scoring when Savage reached base on an error on a fly ball to left.
Moorpark answered with a pair of runs in the bottom of the first, but VC still held a 4-2 lead for Read.
The Pirates stretched their advantage with three runs in the top of the fourth inning. Godinez and Calvin each singled to lead off the frame then moved ahead one base, twice, on a pair of wild pitches, the latter of which led to a Godinez run. Oleson then drew a walk, and, after a pitching change, Turturici reached base on an error that scored Calvin. One batter later Savage hit a sacrifice fly to right field to score Oleson.
That was all the offense Read need on the mound as he pitched into the eighth inning. Dawson Radik came on in relief, and Timmy Adams shut the door on the Raiders recording the final out.
The win was VC's 11th in their last 13 games dating to March 1 as the Pirates remain in a second-place tie with Santa Barbara in the Western State Conference North, two games behind Cuesta and two games ahead of the Raiders.
The two rivals will meet again in the middle game of their three-game set on Thursday April 7 at Pirate Park. First pitch is slated for 2:30 pm.