Pirate Softball Splits Pair at East LA Tri

The VC softball team split a pair of games Saturday at East Los Angeles, dropping a 3-1 decision to the host Huskies before defeating No. 12-ranked Fullerton 4-1. Samantha Soto recorded four hits on the day, including an RBI double against the Hornets, and scored a run to lead the offense. Meanwhile, Baylany Magana pitched a gem in the nightcap, striking out 10 batters in the win over Fullerton.

Ventura struck first against East LA but could not hold the lead, falling 3-1 in the opener.

The Pirates grabbed early momentum in the top of the first inning, manufacturing the game's opening run behind timely hitting. Erika Sanchez delivered an RBI in the frame to stake VC to a 1-0 advantage, and the Pirates' pitching staff made that slim lead stand up through four innings.

ELAC broke through in the bottom of the fifth with a decisive three-run inning that flipped the game. 

Ventura's pitching was a bright spot despite the loss. Emma Estrella turned in an extended outing, working 5.2 innings in a relief effort, striking out nine. She allowed just three hits and three earned runs with two walks, keeping the Pirates within striking distance deep into the game.

Offensively, Ventura matched the Huskies with five hits but could not come up with the big swing in the late innings. Sanchez's first-inning RBI stood as the Pirates' lone run, while VC continued to threaten but left the bases occupied in multiple frames. Soto was a standout at the plate, going 3-for-3 to account for more than half of Ventura's hit total.

In the second game of the day, Magana turned in a dominant complete-game effort in the circle and the Pirates used timely extra-base hitting to defeat Fullerton 4-1.

Magana struck out 10 and scattered five hits over seven innings, allowing just one earned run and one walk to earn the win. The right-hander faced just 28 batters and closed out the seventh to secure the Pirates' victory.

VC broke a scoreless tie with a decisive two-run third inning and never trailed. The Pirates' offense struck again in the fifth, pushing across two more runs to build a 4-0 cushion that proved more than enough support behind Magana's control in the circle. Ventura finished with five hits and did not commit an error, while Fullerton collected five hits but was charged with two miscues.

In the third, Ventura capitalized on a key swing from Soto, who ripped a double as part of the two-run frame that put the Pirates ahead 2-0. Soto finished 1-for-2 with a run, an RBI, a walk and a double to pace the offense. Abby Ibarra added a hit, run and RBI, while RBIs in the contest were credited to Soto, Ibarra, Aubrey Aguirre and Erika Sanchez as Ventura spread the production throughout the lineup.

The Pirates extended the lead in the fifth inning, again stringing together quality at-bats to plate two more runs and stretch the advantage to 4-0. Ventura matched Fullerton with five hits but made them count, stranding five runners while turning those opportunities into four runs.

Ventura (9-14, 2-0) returns to Western State Conference action on Tuesday Mr. 17 hosting Cuesta College at 2:00 pm.