The Pirate softball team dropped Game 1 of their first round Southern California Regional Playoff series at Palomar College Friday, 4-1. Second-year shortstop Abby Strong was 2-3 on the day with a double and a run scored to lead Ventura (27-13) while Ahlyssa Guzman also recorded a pair of hits, including one double. Leanna De La Cruz had the only run batted in of the game for VC.
The No. 6-seeded Comets broke out of the gates early. They scored a run in the bottom of the first inning and three more in the second for a 4-0 lead.
VC, the No. 11 seed in the regionals, came back with a run in the top of the third. With one out Strong doubled and Guzman followed with a single. De La Cruz followed with a sacrifice fly to left field to score Strong to narrow the gap.
VC pitcher Ashlyn Flinchum settled in after the second, limiting Palomar to five hits over the final five innings to keep the Pirates close.
Unfortunately, Ventura's offense could not get untracked, recording just four hits in the game while striking out 10 times.
The Pirates and Comets will battle again on Saturday May 7 at 12:00 pm in Game 2 of the best-of-three series in San Marcos. A Ventura win would force a Game 3 approximately 20 minutes after the conclusion of Game 2.