The Pirate softball team wrapped up a 4-0 weekend at the Mt. San Jacinto College President's Day Tournament with victories over Los Angeles Valley and Imperial Valley on Saturday in Menifee. VC (10-3) had a 7-run first inning in defeating the Monarchs 12-9 in the morning game before blanking the IVC Arabs 4-0 in the tournament finale. Arianna Rivas had a big game early with a home run, triple and five runs batted in while Kaylee Neal was key at the plate in the nightcap.
Ventura 12, Los Angeles Valley 9, 6-innings
Rivas and Megan Best both tripled in two runs in Ventura's 7-run first inning. Celeste Ekman and Samantha Gonzalez added RBI singles as the Pirates took control early. In the second inning, Rivas blasted a 3-run home run while Ekman tripled in a run and Best singled in another. VC led 12-1 after two frames. The Monarchs came back with three runs in the third inning, four runs in the fourth, and another in the top of the sixth, but Ventura was able to hold them off.
Rivas was 2-3 on the day with two runs scored and five RBI and Ekman was 2-3 with two runs scored and another two runs batted in. Best also had a pair of hits with a run scored and three RBI. Brittney Banales scored two times as did Kayla Garcia. Best got the win in the pitcher's circle, throwing four innings with four strikeouts. Anissa Padilla came in for the two-inning save, punching out two batters.
Ventura 4, Imperial Valley 0
The Pirates completed the weekend sweep with the shutout victory. Anissa Padilla went the distance, scattering six hits with six strikeouts over her seven innings of work. VC broke open a scoreless tie with four runs in the top of the fifth inning. Adriana Clemons had two runs batted in during the frame while Neal and Garcia delivered the other run-scoring hits.
Neal had three hits in the game while Garcia was 2-3 at the plate. Angelina Flores recorded a pair of hits.
Ventura will next host Mt. San Antonio College on Saturday Feb. 24 at 12:00 pm at the VC Softball Complex.