The Ventura College softball team had a wild double-header at Moorpark College on Saturday. The Pirates were down 9-0 after three innings before scoring nine runs in the fourth, eventually defeating the Raiders 14-12. In the nightcap VC led 9-3 before falling to Moorpark 12-11 on a walk-off home run. Abby Strong had six runs batted in on the day, including a grand slam home run, while Isabel Gallegos also had a grand slam and five RBI in the two games.
Ventura 14, Moorpark 12
In Game 1, the Pirates fell behind early, yielding six runs in the bottom of the first inning. Moorpark followed with two in the second and another run in the third for a 9-0 lead.
Ventura finally got going in the fourth. Gallegos came to bat with the bases loaded and smacked the ball out of the park for a grand slam home run, and that was followed by another bases-loaded situation in which Strong powered another grand slam. In all, VC scored nine runs in the frame to tie the score at 9-9.
Moorpark answered with a run in the bottom half of the frame before Ventura scored three in the top of the fifth for a 12-10 advantage. The Raiders tied the score once again in the bottom of the fifth.
The game remained knotted until the Pirates scored twice in the top of the seventh to set the margin in the 14-12 win.
Courtney Terrazas was 4-4 in the game, including three doubles, with a pair of RBI while Leanna De La Cruz recorded three hits in the game. Gallegos had a pair of hits with four RBI and Kat Tafoya was 2-4 with a pair of runs batted in. Strong ended the game 1-2 with five RBI and Jalen Barron was 1-3, knocking in one run.
Tafoya came on in relief to pitch the final two innings to pick up the victory. She had three strikeouts in the process.
Ventura 11, Moorpark 12
Ventura had a big lead in the nightcap but was unable to hold on in the 12-11 walk-off loss.
The Raiders took the early lead once again with three runs in the bottom of the first. VC responded with one in the fourth and six in the fifth to take control.
The Pirates also scored twice in he sixth for a 9-3 advantage. At that point, Moorpark started their comeback with five runs in the bottom half of the inning to make it 9-8 for VC.
Ventura plated a pair of insurance runs in the top of the seventh, but it was not enough as Moorpark scored four runs in the bottom of the frame, the final three on a walk-off home run.
Tafoya threw the complete game in the circle with seven K's. At the plate she had two hits and two runs batted in while Barron was 2-4 with one RBI. Terrazas also had a pair of base hits in the game while Strong and Gallegos each had a hit and an RBI. Celeste Pacheco was 1-3 with a sacrifice fly.
The Pirates return to the field with a home double-header on Thursday May 6 against Cuesta College.