The Ventura College softball team had a 5-0 lead in the middle of the fifth inning Tuesday at Moorpark before giving up seven runs over the next two innings, falling to the Raiders 7-5 in Western State Conference play. Serrina Cabral had a pair of hits and scored twice to lead VC (10-11, 5-2) while Kali Brown had two hits with one run scored. Marisa Felix recorded two runs batted in.
The Pirates took a 4-0 lead in the top of the third inning. Jenesa Monje opened the frame with a walk, and one out later, moved to second on a passed ball. Brown then singled and stole second, and Cabral walked to lead the bases. Kayla Garcia and Felix then drew back-to back walks to score a pair of runs before a pitching change. Jessica Mendoza then reached base on a fielder's choice scoring Cabral, an ensuing error on the play scored Garcia before VC made their third out.
In the fifth inning a Cabral double followed by a Felix single scored another run, and VC led 5-0.
Moorpark came back strong, however, with three runs in the bottom of the fifth and four in the sixth to capture the 7-5 result.
Ventura returns to the diamond on Thursday March 21 at Santa Barbara City College before returning home on Saturday and Sunday, March 23 and 24 for the Ventura Spring Tournament. The Pirates will play four games over the weekend, with Glendale and Long Beach at 9:00 am and 11:00 am on Saturday, and against Hartnell and Victor Valley at 9:00 am and 1:30 pm on Sunday.