The Pirate softball team had El Camino on the ropes Tuesday, leading 4-1 entering the bottom of the fifth inning. The Warriors came back with four runs in the frame, aided by a pair of Pirate errors, as VC ultimately lost 5-4 in Torrance. Christina Hart had two RBI with a single in the game for VC (2-1) and Julianne Abeloe scored twice as Ventura fell to defeat for the first time in 2017.
Abeloe opened the game for Ventura with a walk, went to second on Alyssa Frutos' sacrifice and went to third on a wild pitch. Celeste Ekman then walked, and Abeloe scored on a delayed double steal for a 1-0 Pirate lead. El Camino tied the score in the bottom of the first, however.
The Pirates plated three more runs in the third inning. Breana Betancourt and Abeloe opened the inning with singles, and with two outs and the bases loaded, Justine De La Rosa drew a walk to score a run. Hart then singled scoring Abeloe and Eckman, who had reached base on a fielder's choice, and VC led 4-1, setting up the Warrior comeback two innings later.
Anissa Padilla picked up the loss in the pitcher's circle, allowing five runs, four earned, over six innings. She struck out four batters in the effort.
Ventura will travel to Cerritos on Thursday Feb. 2 before hosting Antelope Valley on Friday Feb. 10.