The Ventura College softball team won a pair of one-run games against Antelope Valley Saturday to close their 2021 Covid-shortened season, 2-1 and 3-1, at the VC Softball Complex. Jalen Barron had the big hit in the opener, a two-RBI double in the fifth inning, while Abygail Hall delivered the go-ahead two-RBI single in the fifth inning of the nightcap. Kat Tafoya and Morgan Albertsen each had solid games in the circle, respectively, for the Pirates (12-6, 11-5), who won eight of their final 10 games.
Ventura 2, Antelope Valley 1
After falling behind 1-0 in the top of the first on an unearned run following a bunt single, the Pirates came back with a pair of runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to set the final score.
The Pirates went hitless until the fourth inning when Isabel Gallegos had a clean single. Abby Strong followed by reaching base on an error to put runners on the corners with one out. VC could not take advantage, however, as a pair of pop-fly outs followed to end the threat.
In the fifth inning, Aleska Page had a one-out single, and was forced out at second when Celeste Pacheco reached on a fielders choice. Leanna De La Cruz doubled to shallow center to put two runners into scoring position before Barron smacked the game-winning hit, a two-RBI double.
The Marauders had two runners on in the sixth, and had another reach base in the seventh, but Tafoya and the Pirate defense was able to shut down the threat both times to preserve the win.
Tafoya was solid in the circle, pitching a complete game for the win. She allowed just three hits and walked two while striking out six batters over her seven innings of work.
Ventura 3, Antelope Valley 1
The nightcap followed a similar pattern to the opener. AVC scored once in the top of the second before VC rallied to take the lead in the bottom of the fifth inning.
VC missed opportunities in the first two innings as they had runners move to second and third each frame without scoring a run. They also had runners on first and second with no outs in the third inning and aa runner on third with one out in the fourth to no avail.
It was a different story in the fifth inning for the Pirates. Pacheco had a one-out walk and De La Cruz followed with a single. Both runners advanced on a passed ball before Pacheco was tagged out at home when Barron reached base on a fielder's choice. Gallegos then had a two-out single to knock in De La Cruz to tie the score before Hall's pinch hit single off the third base bag to score two more runs for Ventura.
Albertsen handled the Marauders' offense from the circle, facing just 13 batters in the final four innings. She scattered six hits in the game, allowing just the one run without a walk.
With the games, the PIrates brought their 2021 Covid-shortened season to a close with a final record of 12-6, 11-5 against Western State Conference competition.