Softball Blanks Hancock in Run-Rule Victory

VC's Ashlyn Flinchum pitched a one-hitter, and Isabella Ayala had three hits, including a home run, with two runs batted in and a run scored as the Pirates blanked Allan Hancock 9-0 Thursday in six innings in Santa Maria. Ciana Garcia had a pair of doubles and three RBI and Ahlyssa Guzman singled and doubled and scored three times as Ventura (24-11, 7-1) kept pace in the Western State Conference standings.

Flinchum kept the Bulldogs in check the entire afternoon, facing 21 batters in six innings, three over the minimum. She walked a pair and gave up a sixth-inning single, and no Hancock base runner advanced past second base. Flinchum recorded six strikeouts in the effort.

Ventura got on the board quickly in the top of the first. With one out Guzman was hit by a pitch and advanced to second base on a wild pitch. Lauren Albrent followed with an RBI-double and VC led 1-0.

The score remained until the Pirates broke the game open in the fifth. Ashley Perez reached base on an error and Guzman walked. One out later Isabel Gallegos singled to right to score Perez, then stole second base. Garcia followed with a two-RBI double before being thrown out at third for the second out of the inning. Courtney Terrazas kept the rally going when she was hit by a pitch and Ayala cashed in the mistake with a two-run home run to make it 6-0.

VC made it a run-rule game with three more scores in the top of the sixth. Perez singled to center and Guzman doubled down the right field line before Albrent drew a walk. Gallegos hit into a force out at home, then Garcia doubled to left field to score two. Terrazas hit a sacrifice fly to center to score Gallegos and the Pirate lead stretched to 9-0.

Flinchum gave up a lead-off single in the bottom of the sixth, but then retired the side to finalize the win.

Ventura will next host Oxnard on Tuesday April 12.