The VC softball team had state pre-season No. 10 Santiago Canyon right where they wanted them until a late rally lifted the Hawks past the Pirates. VC held a 2-1 advantage until SCC scored twice in the bottom of the sixth inning to set the final 3-2 margin. Kali Brown double to knock in both Ventura runs in the third inning to give the Pirates a 2-1 edge. Marisa Felix and Serrina Cabral also recorded hits for VC (4-2).
Santiago Canyon took a 1-0 advantage in the bottom of the first inning before Ventura came back with a pair of scores in the third. Cassidy Craig and Jenesa Monje led off the frame with walks and Bertha Orozco sacrificed the pair to second and third base. Brown followed with a double to left center field to drive home the runs for the 2-1 Pirate lead.
Pitcher Jessica Mendoza held up the advantage until the bottom of the sixth when the Hawks rallied for the go-ahead runs. Mendoza went the distance in the circle for VC, yielding three runs on six hits with one strikeout.
Ventura returns to action on Monday Feb. 11 in a make-up date at El Camino College. Their next home date is Thursday Feb. 14 against Antelope Valley College at 2:00 pm.