The Ventura College Pirates shut down the Oxnard College Condors, by a final score of 8-2 on Thursday.

Ventura came into the game at 9-8 in Western State Conference, and 21-11 overall and still fighting for a playoff spot, while Oxnard College came in trying to finish out of the WSC-North cellar.

The game was quiet, until Ventura began to establish their superiority in the third inning. Then batters changed their approach at the plate against Oxnard College pitcher Joey Juarez. The patience displayed from Ventura’s hitters allowed them to get good pitches to hit. Ventura College hitters started waiting until they got fastballs from Juarez, and finally blew the game open. Ventura would score one run in the third and fourth inning along with two in the ninth, but the real damage was done in their four-run-fifth inning.

Starting pitcher and leadoff hitter Garret Rau led Ventura with a dominating performance on the mound along with handling the pressure of leading off, going 3 for 6 with an RBI. On the mound Rau threw a complete game, allowing seven hits and striking out two. Rau was able to pound the strike zone and allow his defense behind him to make plays. He also loves playing with the pressure of pitching and leading off for his team.

“I have been doing it my entire life. I love doing it,” said Rau. “He was throwing straight fastballs and they were easy to hit.”

Ventura College Head Coach Don Adams was also happy to see his team grab a win on the road, and keep pace with Allan Hancock College who is currently in second place in the WSC-North.

“We played well. We have won nine in a row,” said Adams. “We need some help to catch Allan Hancock. We have a big series against Moorpark College this weekend.”

With the win Ventura moves to 10-8 in conference and 22-11 overall. Ventura will travel to Moorpark this Saturday to play Moorpark College, as the first of a back-to-back between the two clubs.