Early Lead Slips Away as Ventura Falls at Citrus
An eight-run fifth inning by Citrus College erased a four-run Ventura lead and sent the Pirates to a 10-6 non-conference loss Thursday afternoon in Glendora. Aubrey Aguirre led the effort with a pair of hits, including a home run, three runs batted in and a pair of runs scored.
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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|
0 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 11 | 2 |
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0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 0 | X | 10 | 11 | 2 |
An eight-run fifth inning by Citrus College erased a four-run Ventura lead and sent the Pirates to a 10-6 non-conference loss Thursday afternoon in Glendora. Aubrey Aguirre led the effort with a pair of hits, including a home run, three runs batted in and a pair of runs scored.
Ventura built a 6-2 advantage through four innings behind an 11-hit attack and a big day from sophomore slugger Aguirre, but Citrus' offense broke through against starter Baylany Magana in the bottom of the fifth and never relinquished control. Both teams finished with 11 hits, but the Owls' timely production in their decisive frame proved to be the difference.
The Pirates seized early momentum with two runs in the top of the second to open the scoring, then added three more in the third to push the margin to 5-0. Ventura continued to apply pressure in the fourth, tacking on another run to restore a four-run cushion at 6-2 after Citrus had answered with two in the bottom of the third. Ventura's lineup consistently squared up pitching through the middle innings, setting the tone for what appeared to be a comfortable road advantage.
Aguirre powered the Ventura offense, going 2 for 4 with two runs scored, three RBI and a home run as she drove in half of the Pirates' runs. Her production helped fuel Ventura's three-run third and kept the Pirates in front into the middle of the game. Ventura's order also showed depth, reaching double figures in hits and placing five runners on base who were left stranded, but could not deliver enough late-inning damage to respond after Citrus' rally.
Samantha Soto had two hits, including a double, and an RBI and Erika Sanchez knocked in a run for the Pirates. Magana and Isabella Padilla also recorded two hits and each scored a run in the game.
Citrus began chipping away with a two-run third, then turned the game around in the fifth. The Owls sent a parade of hitters to the plate in the bottom of the inning, capitalizing on traffic created by hits, five total walks in the game and Ventura miscues.
VC next travels to Bakersfield on Saturday Feb. 7 to take on the host Renegades at 11:30 am and they battle Riverside at 2:00 pm.