VC catcher Isabella Ayala had three hits and a pair of runs batted in while Lauren Albrent recorded two hits with a stolen base, two runs scored and an RBI as the Ventura College softball team posted a 6-0 shutout victory over Santa Barbara Wednesday. Ashlyn Flinchum struck out seven Vaqueros and scattered four hits over seven innings to pick up the complete-game victory for the state No. 11-ranked Pirates (23-5-1, 11-0).
After a pair of scoreless innings, VC exploded for five runs i the top of the third. Mia Guerrero singled to lead off the inning and was replaced by pinch runner Maggie Howe. One out later, Ciana Garcia and Ahlyssa Guzman hit back-to-back singles to load the bases. Albrent followed with an RBI single and Garcia scored on a wild pitch that also moved runners to second and third. Guzman then score don an error by the catcher before Albrent scored on a single by Isabel Gallegos. Jocelyn Ortega grounded out to move Gallegos to second before Isabella Ayala hit an RBI single to make it 5-0.
Flinchum took over from that point, retiring 15 of the final 18 batters to come to the plate for SBCC.
The Pirates added an insurance run in the top of the seventh. Albrent led off with a single and stole second. Ayala followed with a two-out RBI single for the final 6-0 margin.
Ventura next hosts Los Angeles Valley on Friday April 14 at 1:00 pm in a non-conference contest.