The Ventura College softball team opened its 2023 season Friday with a tie and a win at the Glendale Tournament. The Pirates played Sacramento to a 5-5 draw before running out of time, then defeated LA Valley 10-4 in two morning games. Isabel Gallegos smacked four hits on the day with a pair of home runs and three runs batted in while Lauren Albrent recorded three hits with a double and a homer in the two games.
Ventura 5, Sacramento 5
The Pirates trailed by two runs on two different occasions during the game, coming back both times. Sac City held a 2-0 lead after three innings before the Pirates scored twice in the top of the fourth. Then, trailing 5-3 headed to the top of the seventh, Ventura scored twice to pull even with the Panthers before the time limit for the game expired.
Morgan Albertsen go the start in the pitcher's circle, hurling four frames with four strikeouts. Mia Guerrero closed the final three innings, holding on for the draw.
Albrent led the way offensively with a 3-4 performance with a double and a home run, knocking in two runs. Ahlyssa Guzman was 2-4 with a solo home run and Gallegos recorded a pair of hits, including a solo bomb. Isabella Ayala also had two hits for the Pirates.
Ventura 10, LA Valley 4
In the nightcap, VC trailed 4-2 before they erupted for eight runs in the bottom of the third inning. Gallegos and Ashlyn Flinchum both delivered clutch hits in the big frame with a two-run homer and a two-run triple, respectively.
Flinchum came on in relief of Guerrero in the circle after two innings, allowing just two hits while fanning nine over the final four frames to pick up the victory.
Jocelyn Ortega was 2-3 at the plate with an RBI and two runs scored and Ayala recorded a pair of singles, scoring once. Ciana Garcia had a walk and a sacrifice fly with one RBI and a run scored. Guzman was 1-3 with a double and a run scored while Albertsen was 1-2 with a run batted in and a run scored. Maggie Howe was 1-2 with a walk.
Ventura will close the Glendale Tournament with games against San Diego Mesa and Glendale Saturday afternoon, Jan. 28.