Six days ago, the Pirate softball team suffered their only Western State Conference loss at home against Hancock. Ventura returned the favor and then some Tuesday afternoon in Santa Maria, pounding the Bulldogs 13-2 in the regular season finale. Ashlyn Flinchum allowed two hits and two runs while adding to her state-leading strikeout total with six K's. Offensively, Isabella Ayala had three hits, including two extra base knocks, while scoring twice with four runs batted in for VC (29-7-1, 14-1).
The game was a pitchers' duel over the first three innings as neither team was able to put up any runs. The Pirates threatened, however, and in the fourth inning they got things going in a big way.
Isabel Gallegos and Jocelyn Ortega led off with back-to-back singles, and both runners advanced a base on a passed ball. Ayala then hit a two-RBI double to break the ice for Ventura. One out later Mia Guerrero singled home Ayala and Maggie Howe followed with an RBI double to make it 4-0. After the second out of the frame, Ahlyssa Guzman singled and moved Howe to third before Lauren Albrent hit an RBI single up the middle. Gallegos came up for the second time in the inning and hit another single, knocking in Guzman for the 6-0 count.
After Flinchum retired the Bulldogs in order in the bottom of the fourth, two outs by strikeout, the Pirates continued their onslaught.
Ayala and Flinchum started the at-bat with a pair of singles before pinch hitter Alexis Carillo laid down a bunt single. A throwing error by AHC then allowed each runner to move ahead, sending Ayala home to score. Morgan Albertsen followed with an RBI single to score Flinchum. One out later Guzman hit an RBI single to center. Albrent reached base on a fielder's choice that retired Albertsen at home and Gallegos walked to load the bases. Ortega then made it to first on an error that scored Albrent and Guzman and Ayala hit another two-RBI double to send Ortega and Gallegos home. The Pirates led 13-0 headed to the bottom of the fifth.
Hancock managed to score a pair of runs in their final at bat, but it was not near enough to prevent Ventura from recording the run-rule triumph, 13-2.
The Pirates won the Western State Conference championship by a four-game margin and will now await their playoff fate. They will likely host a best-of-three first round playoff series at the VC Softball Complex on Friday and Saturday, May 5 and 6.