The Pirate softball team closed he 2024 season with a bang, posting a 14-3 triumph at Santa Monica Tuesday afternoon. Savanna Higgins had a double and a triple with a run scored and two runs batted in and Jennie Jacinto had three hits and a walk with one RBI and three runs scored. Chelsea Trejo allowed three runs, one earned, over seven innings worked in the pitcher's circle for Ventura, who finished the season with seven wins in their final 13 games.
VC got on the board early when Higgins hit a sacrifice fly to score J. Jacinto in the top of the first. Alexyss Campos then scored on a wild pitch and VC held a 2-0 advantage.
The Corsairs came back to take a 3-2 lead with a three-run third inning.
Alyssa Jacinto doubled home Jade Loeffler in the top of the fourth to pull the Pirates even with SMC.
Ventura took control of the game with a three-run fifth inning. Kaliona Hernandez led off the frame with a walk and Kiara Harrison followed with a single. The two runners advanced with a double steal before J. Jacinto singled home Hernandez before moving to second on the throw home. Harrison scored on an error and Campos hit a sacrifice fly to score Jacinto for the 6-3 VC margin.
The Pirates ended the season in fine fashion, scoring eight runs in their final at-bat. J. Jacinto and Campos each singled before Higgins batted in one with a double. Loeffler followed with an RBI single and Higgins scored on a wild pitch on the next at bat. Trejo and A. Jacinto each walked to load the bases and Victoria Rodriguez singled home two runs. After the first out of the inning Harrison singled to score A. Jacinto and Campos reached base on an error that scored two more runs.
While Ventura struggled in the early season, the team comprised mostly of freshmen came together in the final six weeks of the year, winning seven of their final 13 games. The future looks bright for the Pirates heading to 2025.