A pair of walks, an error, and a bloop single were all it took for the Pirates to drop the first game of the SoCal Regional Playoff series against Antelope Valley. VC dropped a 2-1 decision to the Marauders Friday at the VC Softball Complex in game 1 of the best-of-three first round series. Games 2, and game 3 (if necessary) will be Saturday May 5 beginning an noon in Ventura.
The game was scoreless until the bottom of the third inning before the Pirates got on the board first. Adriana Clemons singled, then Kayla Garcia tripled to bring her home for a 1-0 advantage.
Antelope Valley came back in the top of the fourth to turn the tables. They took advantage of a pair of walks and an error to load the bases before a bloop single scored a pair of runs to put AVC ahead 2-1.
Neither team was able to cross the plate again in the game. VC had a chance in the fifth when Kaylee Neal advanced to third base on a throwing error on a ground ball to the shortstop. She was tagged out at home two batters later on an attempted squeeze play, ending the threat.
Anissa Padilla pitched a strong game, allowing no earned runs and just one hit while striking out eight batters. Offensively, Garcia had two hits, including her RBI triple, while Clemons and Arianna Rivas each had one hit.
The two teams return to action Saturday at the VC Softball Complex. The Pirates will hope to turn the tables in Game 2 beginning at 12 noon, with Game 3, if necessary, immediately following.