The Pirate softball team trailed 4-0 in the bottom of the seventh inning before scoring two runs and loading the bases before falling to visiting Antelope Valley 4-2 on Thursday afternoon at the VC Softball Complex. Adriana Clemons and Marisa Felix each had RBI singles in the final frame and each had two hits in the game. Jessica Mendoza worked all seven innings in the circle, scattering six hits with three strikeouts while allowing four runs, three earned.
The Marauders scored twice in the first inning, then plated an unearned run in the second for a 3-0 advantage. The Pirates got their first baserunners in the bottom of the third with a Cassidy Craig walk and Kali Brown's single, but they were not able to take advantage.
VC loaded the bases in the fourth with singles by Felix and Serrina Cabral, and a walk drawn by Kayla Garcia, but once, again, were not able to cross the plate.
An error and a single gave AVC a run in the top of the fifth inning for a 4-0 lead.
The Pirates tried to mount a rally in the sixth with a Clemons single, a sacrifice by Felix and a walk by Cabral, but a pop up and a liner ended the threat once again.
Still trailing 4-0, the Pirates mounted one final rally in the bottom of the seventh. Craig led off with a walk and Jenesa Monje singled with both runners advancing on an error. Two outs later Clemons and Felix had back-to-back RBI singles and Cabral reached base on an error to load the bases. With the game-winning run on first, the Pirate rally ended, and VC fell by a final count of 4-2.
The Pirates next travel to Compton on Friday Feb. 22.