VC Softball Drops Pair to Cypress, El Camino

The Pirate softball team had a difficult day on Saturday, falling to state No. 3-ranked Cypress 5-0 before dropping an 8-6 decision to El Camino at Cypress College. Shortstop Ahlyssa Guzman had the only hit of the game against the Chargers for No. 11 Ventura (19-5-1, 7-0) before recording two more base hits against the Warriors. Ciana Garcia had three hits, including a double, two runs scored and two runs batted in against El Camino and Jocelyn Ortega had a single and a double with two RBI and a run scored in the nightcap.

In the first game, the Pirates ran into a buzzsaw in the Chargers' pitching. VC managed just three baserunners all game. Ashlyn Flinchum reached first in the second on an error, and walked to lead off the top of the fifth, only to be retired one batter later on a double play ball. Ventura had its best chance to score in the fourth when Guzman led off with a singled, moving to second on an error. After a fly ball out, Guzman advanced to third on a ground ball out but was stranded there with the third out.

Cypress scored two runs in the bottom of the first, then tallied one run each in the second, third and fourth innings for the 5-0 final.

In the second game, Ventura led 4-2 in the middle of the fifth before the Warriors turned things around with four runs in the bottom of the frame.

The Pirates got off to a quick start against El Camino, scoring three times in the top of the first. Garcia led off with a single and scored one out later on Lauren Albrent's triple. Ortega followed with an RBI double, moving to third on a wild pitch before Isabella Ayala hit a sacrifice fly to left field for the third run.

El Camino answered with two runs in the bottom of the first, and the game stayed at 3-2 until the fifth inning. Garcia and Guzman each singled to lead off the frame, and one out later, Ortega hit an RBI single to give the Pirates the 4-2 edge.

Everything changed in the bottom of the frame, however, as El Camino plated four runs to take a 6-4 lead.

VC continued to fight, however, tying the game in the top of the sixth. Mia Guerrero and Maggie Howe both singled to lead off the frame, then Alexis Carillo sacrificed the runners ahead one base. Garcia followed with a two-RBI double, and moved to third on Albrent's single.  The Pirates left runners on the corners, however, as the next two batters were retired by the Warriors.

Ventura then gave up two more runs in the bottom of the sixth to set the final margin.

The Pirates resume Western State Conference play on Tuesday April 4 hosting Cuesta at 2:30 pm at the VC Softball Complex.