The Pirate softball team split a pair of games Friday afternoon in a doubleheader against Santiago Canyon at the VC Softball Complex. Ventura outlasted the Hawks 12-11 in 11 innings in the first contest before falling 12-4 in the nightcap. Lauren Albrent had four hits on the day with four runs scored and five runs batted in while Ciana Garcia also belted out four hits with a pair of runs scored. Morgan Albertsen pitched the final 10 innings in game one to pick up the victory for VC (5-1-1).
Ventura 12, Santiago Canyon 11 (11 Innings)
Ventura outlasted SCC in the first game to claim the 12-11 win. Albrent was 3-6 at the plate with five RBI and a pair of runs scored while Jocelyn Ortega also had three hits with two RBI and a run scored. Garcia and Ahlyssa Guzman each had two hits and three runs scored and Isabel Gallegos recorded a triple with three RBI.
The Pirates jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first with Albrent delivering the damage with a three-run home run.
SCC came back with two runs in the second and another in the third to tie the score. They then plated four scores in the fourth to take a 7-3 advantage.
VC answered with a pair of runs in the bottom of the sixth inning with Albrent and Guzman each delivering RBI singles.
The Hawks scored two more runs in the top of the sixth, setting the stage for a Ventura comeback.
In the bottom half of the frame, Guzman hit an RBI single before Gallegos' bases-clearing three-run triple knotted the count at 9-9.
The game went into extra innings with Santiago Canyon scoring once in the top of the ninth. VC was able to answer in the bottom of the inning when Mia Guerrero hit a sacrifice fly to left field to score Ortega.
SCC took the lead again in the top of the 11th inning with another run.
Ventura responded with a pair of scores to bring home the win. Albrent hit an RBI triple before Ortega knocked her home with a single for the walk-off win.
Ashlyn Flinchum got the start in the circle, pitching an inning before giving way to Albertsen, who struck out three while yielding five earned runs in her 10 innings of work.
Ventura 4, Santiago Canyon 12
The Pirates dropped the nightcap to the Hawks 12-4. Gallegos hit a pair of triples with two RBI and a run scored to lead Ventura and Isabella Ayala had two hits with a run scored.
SCC took the lead in the third inning with a pair of runs.
VC answered in the bottom half of the fourth inning when Gallegos tripled home Albrent, who had singled.
The Hawks scored two more runs in the top of the fifth with Ventura scoring once in the bottom half. Ayala led off with a single and came in to score when Flinchum reached base on an error two batters later.
Santiago Canyon took control with a four-run sixth inning. The Pirates attempt at another comeback included two runs in the bottom of the frame. Gallegos hit another triple to score Albrent before coming home when Ortega reached on an error.
SCC put the game away with four more runs in the seventh to salvage the split.
Guerrero pitched the complete game for Ventura.
VC next hosts Mt. San Antonio on Tuesday Feb. 7 at 2:00 pm.