Needing a double-header split on the season's final day to make the playoffs, the Pirate softball team fell short Tuesday afternoon in San Luis Obispo against Cuesta College. The Cougars won game one 10-3 setting up the showdown in the nightcap. Unfortunately for VC, the Cougars prevailed 7-6 in extra innings to end the Pirates' season.
Ventura 3, Cuesta 10 - Game 1
Cuesta scored single runs in the first two innings, and two more in the fifth to take a 4-0 lead. VC came back with three in the top of the sixth. The Cougars put the game away with six runs in the bottom of the sixth inning.
Brittany Perez was 2-3 in the game, with a home run, scoring one run with one RBI. Lindsey Deitz also had a solo home run in the game, and Carly Camarillo had a hit with an RBI. Alexis White took the loss in the pitcher's circle for VC.
Ventura 6, Cuesta 7 - Game 2 (9 innings)
Trailing 5-1, the Pirates came roaring back with four runs in the sixth inning to tie the score, forcing extra innings. Ventura scored once in the eighth, but Cuesta was able to match, before walking off in the ninth with the 7-6 win.
Deitz led the offense with a home run and a double, scoring twice with two RBI. Yamilex Ruiz was 4-4 with a double, with two runs scored and a pair of runs batten in while Gabriella Ramos had a pair of hits with a run scored. Marina Coffin also scored once with one hit. Camarillo pitches the entire game for the Pirates.
Ventura finishes the season with a 16-20 overall record, 9-6 in the Western State Conference Gold Division. They finished in third place, one game behind Cuesta for the final automatic playoff spot for the conference.