The Pirate softball team dropped a wild game at Antelope Valley, 10-8, on Thursday afternoon. VC had a lead of four runs, and two three-run margins, only to see the Marauders come back each time, ultimately taking the game. Celeste Pacheco had a pair of hits with two runs batted in and Courtney Terrazas was 2-2 with two walks, an RBI and two runs scored. Isabel Gallegos also recorded a pair of hits, including a triple, with an RBI and two runs scored.
After the Marauders plated one run in the bottom of the first, the Pirates took the lead with one run each in the second and third frames. Pacheco delivered the clutch hit in the second, a two-out RBI single that scored Terrazas. In the third, it was Terrazas who delivered the two-out knock, scoring Jessica Mendoza for a 2-1 Pirate lead.
Ventura followed with a three-run fourth inning. With one out, Gallegos doubled, and one out later, she scored when Cassidy Craig reached base on an error. Mendoza then reached base on an error that scored Craig, and Kat Tafoya delivered an RBI double for a 5-1 VC margin.
The lead was short-lived, however, as AVC scored four runs in the bottom half of the column to tie the game at 5-5 after four complete.
In the fifth inning, the Pirates retook the lead, scoring three runs. Terrazas led off with a walk, and moved to second base on a wild pitch. One out later, Lauren Saenz had an RBI double, followed by an RBI triple by Gallegos and an RBI single by Pacheco.
Unfortunately for Ventura, Antelope Valley rallied for four runs in the bottom half of the fifth to take a 9-8 lead, and they scored an insurance run in the sixth for the final 10-8 margin.
Mendoza started in the circle for the Pirates, throwing four complete innings before giving way to Tafoya, who pitched the final two frames.
The Pirates are back in action Saturday and Sunday Feb. 15 and 16 in the Mt. San Jacinto Tournament in Menifee. VC plays LA Valley and Victor Valley on Saturday before taking on Desert and Mt. San Jacinto on Sunday.