After a week of sketchy weather and wet fields, the Pirate baseball team returned to action under sunny skies and cool ocean breezes Saturday at Pirate Park as Hunter Jones and Cooper Smith combined to allow three hits in VC's 4-0 shutout victory over Rio Hondo. Reiss Calvin was 2-3 with a walk, three stolen bases, a run batted in and a run scored while Gage Allen had a pair of hits, including a double, and an RBI to power Ventura (10-15, 5-7).
Jones shut down the Roadrurunners through seven innings, scattering three singles, two in the first inning, and only allowing one runner into scoring position. He struck out eight while walking two in keeping RHC off the scoreboard.
Ventura, meanwhile, seemed to have trouble finding the big hit, stranding runners in scoring position in both the first and third innings.
Things changed for the Pirates in the bottom of the sixth. With one out, Calvin battled through his at-bat to hit a single. Yuki Kawashima then followed with a triple down the first base line to score Calvin for the 1-0 lead. After Mason Reid was hit by a pitch, Haiden Letzing beat out the throw on a potential double play ball, allowing Kawashima to score.
VC followed up with two more runs in the seventh. Matthew Beach led off with a double, and one out later, Allen singled him home. Connor Hickey reached base on a fielder's choice and stole second before Calvin hit an RBI single for the 4-0 final margin.
Smith came on in the top of the eighth, retiring six of the seven batters he faced in securing the shutout victory.
Ventura returns to Western State conference play on Tuesday March 28, weather permitting, at Allan Hancock College in Santa Maria.