VC comeback falls short at LA Valley

In one of the longest games in VC softball history, a Pirate comeback fell short at Los Angeles Valley. The game began Feb. 17, but was suspended due to weather in the bottom of the third inning. Play resumed Friday with Ventura trailing 7-5. The Pirates outscored the Monarchs 3-2 in four remaining innings Friday but the comeback fell short, 9-8. Paisley Magdaleno ended the game with four hits, one run batted in and a pair of runs scored while Aubrey Aguirre had three hits and two RBI.

Ventura struck first and showed plenty of life at the plate throughout the afternoon. The Pirates scored once in the top of the first, then added three more in the second to take a 4-1 lead. They finished with 13 hits, compared with nine for LA Valley, but could not fully overcome the home team's big middle-inning surge. Ventura also pushed across a run in the third before mounting its final charge with three runs in the fifth to cut the margin to 9-8.

Magdaleno led Ventura's offense with a 4-for-4 day, scoring twice and driving in one run. Aguirre, who started the game in the circle, helped her own cause at the plate, going 3 for 4 with a double and two RBIs. Zayra Landeros added two hits in two at-bats and drove in two runs, giving the Pirates production up and down the lineup in a game where they consistently put runners on base.

In the circle, Aguirre took the loss after allowing seven runs on six hits in two innings. Baylany Magana gave Ventura needed relief work, covering the final four innings Friday and allowing the Pirates a chance to rally late.

VC returns to Western State Conference North Division play on Thursday Apr. 9 traveling to San Luis Obispo to take on Cuesta.