Megan Best pitched a five-inning, two-hit shutout Thursday, leading the Pirate softball team to a 10-0 victory over visiting Santa Monica College at the VC Softball Complex. Anissa Padilla had three hits, including a pair of triples, scored three times and had five runs batted in to lead VC (18-6, 6-1) at the plate. Arianna Rivas and Danielle Carmona each recorded two hits in the victory.
Ventura scored once in the first inning when Adriana Clemons ground out out to score Kaylee Neal. The Pirates followed with another score in the second when Brittney Banales had a two-out singles to plate Padilla.
The Pirates broke the game open with a five-run third frame. Clemons and Arianna Rivas each had singles sandwiched around Angelina Flores reaching base on an error to load the bases. Padilla delivered the bases-clearing triple then scored when Carmona followed with a base hit. Three batters later, Samantha Gonzalez singled in Celeste Ekman for a 7-0 Pirate advantage.
VC added three runs in the fourth inning. Padilla tripled to knock in Rivas and Flores, then, following a Carmona single, Ekman reached on a fielder's choice scoring Padilla.
In the pitcher's circle, Best struck out six Corsairs and gave up just two hits and walked one to pick up the win.
Ventura continues its spring break schedule on Friday March 30, hosting Santa Ana at 1:00 pm.