The Ventura College softball team split a a pair of games Saturday at East Los Anglee3s College in Monterey Park. The Pirates dropped a close decision to the host Huskies 8-7 before defeating Fullerton 8-6 in the nightcap. Isabel Gallegos had a good day with four hits, including two home runs and a double, four runs batted in, four runs scored and a stolen base. Ahlyssa Guzman had three hits with an RBI and a run scored and Lauren Albrent recorded a pair of hits, including a double, with three runs scored and four RBI.
Ventura 7, East Los Angeles 8
The Pirates held a 6-1 lead after two innings, but gave up seven runs in the next two frames. VC scored in the top of the seventh, but were retired one run short in the 8-7 decision against the Huskies.
Albrent had an RBI single in the first inning to score Ashley Perez, and Gallegos doubled in Albrent as VC took an early 2-0 lead. ELAC responded with one run in the bottom half of the inning.
Albrent then doubles with the bases loaded in the second to score three more runs, and scored when Abby Strong reached base on an error for the 6-1 Ventura margin.
East LA scored four times in the bottom of the third, and three more times in the fourth to hold an 8-6 lead.
Gallegos hit a solo home run to lead off the seventh, but VC could not get the tying run on base before being retired.
Morgan Albertsen started in the circle for Ventura, pitching into the third inning, yielding five runs, four earned. Kat Tafoya finished the game for VC giving up three unearned runs in the third before pitching three more scoreless frames.
Ventura 8, Fullerton 6
The Pirates came back in the nightcap, scoring seven runs in their final three at bats for the victory.
After falling behind 1-0, Ventura scored once in the bottom of the third to tie the game. Perez had an RBI single to score Ciana Garcia for the 1-1 score.
The Hornets responded with two runs in the top of the fourth to hold a 3-1 advantage headed to the bottom half of the frame.
Gallegos walked to open the fourth, and Isabella Ayala sacrificed her to second. Courtney Terrazas then reached first base on an error and Gallegos scored on the play. Strong reached base on another error, and Garcia singled one out later to load the bases. Perez then had the clutch single to score two and the Pirates led 4-3.
Fullerton retook the lead 5-4 with a pair of scores in the top of the fifth before VC equalled the output in the bottom of the inning.
Gallegos got on base on an error and Ayala followed with a single. Terrazas had an RBI single to score Gallegos and Strong singled to load the bases. Serena Carmona hit a sacrifice fly to left field to score Ayala and Ventura led 6-5.
The Pirates expanded their lead in the bottom of the sixth. Guzman singled to lead things off and Albrent reached base on an error after Guzman was forced out at second. Gallegos followed with a two-run home run for an 8-5 advantage.
Fullerton scored once in the top of the seventh, but VC pitcher Ashlyn Flinchum threw a strikeout to close out the complete-game victory. She struck out five batters total over the seven innings to record the win.
Ventura (16-6, 3-0), ranked No. 20 in the state and No. 9 in Southern California in last week's polls, will next travel to No. 1 Mt. San Antonio for a 3:00 pm game on Tuesday March 22.