The VC softball team continued their roll Friday with a 17-5 six-inning win at Los Angeles Valley, the Pirates' fifth win in their past seven games. Victoria Rodriguez came on as a pinch hitter in the top of the sixth and had two hits and three runs batted in while Savanna Higgins recorded two hits, including a home run, with three runs scored and three RBI.
LA Valley took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second, but it was short-lived.
The Pirates answered with a score in the top of the third when Jade Loeffler hit a sacrifice fly to score Higgins from third base.
VC then took control with four runs in the visitors' half of the fourth. Haylie Lopez led off with a single, the scored on Kiara Harrison's RBI triple. One out later Alexyss Campos singled before Higgins belted a three-run home run to centerfield.
The Monarchs climbed back into the game with a three-run fifth inning.
The Pirates had a big answer in the top of the sixth, however, sending 17 batters to the plate, scoring 12 runs. Higgins had a bases-loaded RBI single to score Harrison before Loeffler doubles to right field scoring Jennie Jacinto and Campos. Rodriguez then hit a pinch hit RBI single scoring Higgins. After a walk by Alyssa Jacinto, Kaliona Hernandez singled to score Loeffler before Lopez singled to plate Rodriguez. Harrison then reached on a fielder's choice that scored A. Jacinto, then J. Jacinto recorded two RBI with a triple. Campos reached on an error that scored J. Jacinto and Rodriguez hit a double that scored Higgins and Loeffler, who had both walked. Ventura led 17-4 following the offensive outburst.
LAVC plated a run in the bottom of the sixth, but it wa not enough to stop the 17-5 run-rule victory for Ventura.
Campos had two hits, two runs scored and two RBI and A. Jacinto also recorded two hits with a run scored. Lopez belted a pair of hits with a run scored and an RBI and Hernandez also had two hits with an RBI. Loeffler had three RBI in the game.
Chelsea Trejo pitched the first five innings for the Pirates, scattering eight hits and yielding four runs, one earned.
Ventura next travels to Cuesta on Tuesday April 9.