Angelina Flores, Brittney Banales and Kaylee Neal all had two hits as the Pirate softball team produced a 7-4 victory at LA Mission College Tuesday afternoon. Flores had the big hit of the game, a grand slam home run in the fifth inning, while Banales scored twice and Neal came across the plate once as Ventura (6-2) continued its strong start to the 2018 season. Megan Best notched her fourth win of the season in the pitcher's circle, throwing 4.2 innings and striking out five batters.
The Pirates got on the board first in the second inning when Flores hit a sacrifice fly scoring Banales. The Eagles evened the count in the bottom half of the frame before VC scored two more runs in the third. Neal had a one-out double, followed by a single by Kayla Garcia. After a misplay in the outfield, Neal came around to score on the play. Two batters later, Garcia scored on an Arianna Rivas single.
Leading 3-1, the Pirates got some much needed insurance in the fifth inning when Flores pelted the big hit of the game, a grand slam home run. Best, Rivas and Banales were all on base and scored as Ventura went ahead 7-1.
That insurance came in handy after the Eagles answered with three scores in the bottom half of the fifth to set the final margin.
Ventura will travel to Antelope Valley on Thursday Feb. 15 for a 2:30 pm game before heading east for the weekend, playing four games at the Mt. San Jacinto College President's Day tournament in Menifee.