Albertsen No-Hits Pierce with 13 Strikeouts

Morgan Albertsen was on top of her game Thursday in the pitcher's circle. The sophomore allowed a base runner on an error and a walk in the first inning before retiring the final 19 Brahmas she faced in pitching a no-hitter in the Pirates' 6-0 shutout victory at the VC Softball Complex. Isabel Gallegos had two hits, including a triple, and three runs batted in while Ciana Garcia recorded a pair of hits with two runs scored to lead the offense for Ventura (12-2-1, 3-0) in their first action in over a week due to the recent rains.

The Brahmas threatened in the first inning, reaching base on a one-out error and recieving a two-out walk, a double-steal put runners at second and third, but Albertsen induced a pop-up to shortstop to end the threat. Those would be Pierce's final base runners of the game as Albertsen followed with 18 straight outs over the final six frames.

The Pirates, meanwhile, took the early lead in the bottom half of the first. Garcia led off with a single, and moved to second on Ahlyssa Guzman's groundout. Lauren Albrent singled to move Garcia to third, then stole second before Gallegos hit a sacrifice fly.Jocelyn Ortega then hit an RBI single and Ventura led 2-0.

Garcia singled again to open the third, and Gallegos followed with an RBI triple two outs later for a 3-0 Pirate margin.

Ventura stretched the lead to 5-0 in the next column with a pair of scores in the fourth. Isabella Ayala hit a lead-off triple before coming home on Ashlyn Flinchum's RBI single. Mia Guerrero reached base on a fielder's choice before coming around to score on Albertsen's double.

VC scored one more run in the bottom of the sixth for the final count. Albertsen led off with a single coming home to score when Gallegos hit a two-out RBI single.

Ortega, Flinchum and Albertsen also had two hits each in the game, each with one RBI. 

The Pirates have a quick turnaround, hosting Santa Barbara on Friday March 3 at 2:30 pm in a make-up game from earlier this week.