After a rough start, Pierce College’s baseball team delivered their first blowout of the season by beating the visiting Ventura College 15 -4 on Saturday.
Ventura was undefeated in conference games until Pierce stepped up to the plate with back-to-back wins against them in the same week as Pierce’s first victory came on March 14, winning 5 to 2.
Under head coach John Bushart, this is Pierce’s first time in the same conference as Ventura, last year they played each other only in non conference games.
“We were about .500 [against Ventura],” said John Bushart, Pierce’s head coach. “We probably won as many as we lost against them; they are a good team with a good program.”
Even though the first inning was evenly matched at one run a piece, Pierce was able to pick up the pace and create a comfortable lead.
It was in the second inning that Pierce batted in six RBIs while Ventura could only drive in one run.
“I think our team is finally finding ways to win,” said Eric Bloom, one of Pierce College’s assistant coaches.
Pierce’s defense only allowed Ventura a maximum of one score an inning, only scoring in the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 8th inning.
“We played good defense, which we haven’t been doing,” said Bushart. “We had a strong start at pitching, we had a complete game.”
Pierce’s players came through on every aspect of the game, even getting an extra lift from the bench for a big win.
“Aldo Zamora stepped in, he hasn’t been playing a lot,” said Bushart. “He went 5 for 7 on the week, so he picked us up offensively.”
Pierce’s first baseman Alex Sawleson, who leads the team in RBIs with 18 this season, had four on the evening.
“He has been doing that all year, he is one of the most consistent guys in our lineup,” said Bloom. “He’s done a good job of getting the hits when we need them.”
It was an all around team effort for Pierce as 10 different players scored runs and nine different players had hits.
“We racked it, we hit the ball really well,” said Sawleson. “We were definitely struggling and stressing out a little bit, so it was a big win for us.”
Third baseman Kevin Torres and center fielder Justin Davis both scored three runs apiece in Pierce’s win.
“We needed to win some games, build a little momentum,” said Bushart. “We played well so hopefully it carries into this week.”
Pierce will hit the road again versus Alan Hancock College on March 19.
