Ventura Ralliesto Walk Off Cuesta, 4-3

Baylany Magana and Samantha Soto each had base hits in the bottom of the seventh, both scoring as the Pirates defeated Cuesta 4-3 on the strength of the seventh-inning rally at the VC Softball Complex Tuesday. Jayla Raya reached base on an error that allowed Soto to plate the game-winner. Magana, Soto and Sophia Valencia each had two hits on the day for the Pirates and Magana pitched six strong innings before Emma Estrella came on to pitch the final frame.

The late comeback completed a steady climb back after Ventura fell behind 3-0. Cuesta's offense struck first in the second inning staking the visitors to a 2-0 lead. The Cougars added another run in the fifth pushing the margin to 3-0 and putting the Pirates in a deep hole midway through the game.

VC began its response in the bottom of the fifth. Soto put the Pirates on the board with an RBI, cutting the deficit to 3-1 and shifting momentum toward the home dugout. An inning later, Zayra Landeros reached base on an error to puch across another run, trimming the Cuesta lead to 3-2 and setting up the dramatic finish. Ventura finished with seven hits, steadily applying pressure while taking advantage of five Cuesta errors.

In the seventh, Ventura completed the comeback. Trailing by one, the Pirates mounted a final push and came through in the clutch, with Erika Sanchez and Raya each driving in a run to turn the one-run deficit into a 4-3 margin.

Magana set the tone in the circle for VC, working six innings and limiting Cuesta to six hits and three runs, one earned, while striking out four and walking two. Estrella handled the seventh, facing the minimum in a scoreless inning with one strikeout to set up the dramatic final at-bat.

The Pirates (10-14, 3-0) next travel to Moorpark on Thursday Mar. 19.