The Pirate softball team played its fourth double-header of the season on Thursday, and for the fourth time they split the two games. VC (4-4) defeated visiting Cuesta in game one of the twin-bill at the VC Softball Complex 10-8 in eight innings before dropping the second contest 6-3. Courtney Terrazas had four hits, two runs batted in and scored three times on the day to lead Ventura.
Ventura 10, Cuesta 9, 8 innings
In another wild game, the Pirates came back with four runs in the bottom of the eighth to defeat the Cougars 10-9. It was the second comeback of the game for Ventura as they plated three scores in the bottom of the fifth inning to take a 6-5 lead.
VC took the early lead with a pair of runs in the first frame. Celeste Pacheco opened the inning with a walk and Leanna De La Cruz sacrificed her to second. Jalen Barron then singled to send Pacheco to third and Terrazas singled to knock in Pacheco. One out later, Abby Strong walked , then Kat Tafoya singled home Terrazas for a 2-0 Pirate advantage.
Cuesta halved the margin with a run in the second inning before the Pirates answered with another score in the third. Terrazas led off the frame with a double, and two outs later Tafoya hit an RBI triple to make it 3-1 for VC.
SB��: Pirates score 1 in the ⬇️3 on Kay Tafoya's 2-out RBI triple. @VCPirateSB leads @Cuesta_College 3-1 after 3. @vcscolleges pic.twitter.com/NxjagjBvRl
— VC Athletics (@VCAthletics) May 6, 2021
The Cougars came roaring back in the next half inning, scoring four runs on five hits to take a 5-3 lead.
In the bottom of the fifth, the Pirates answered with their own three-run rally. Terrazas was the spark once again, leading off with a single. Abygail Hall followed with a pinch-hit single and Strong reached base on an error to lad the bases. One out later Isabella Ayala had a two-run single, followed by a groundout by Isabel Gallegos to knock in the third score of the frame. Ventura led 6-5 after five innings of play.
SB��: @VCPirateSB score 3 in the ⬇️5 to retake the lead 6-5. Isabella Ayala with the key 2 RBI at bat. @vcscolleges pic.twitter.com/gr527DSzUO
— VC Athletics (@VCAthletics) May 6, 2021
Ventura recorded two outs in the top of the seventh before Cuesta scored an unearned run to tie the game, sending it to extra innings.
In the first extra frame, Cuesta scored three runs, all with two outs, including the runner that began the inning on second base. the Cougars took a 9-6 lead to the bottom of the eighth.
For the Pirates, Gallegos began the inning on second base and Pacheco drew a lead-off walk. De La Cruz also walked before Barron cleared the bases with a double to tie the score. One out later Baron moved to third base when Aleska Page reached base on an error, then with two outs Tafoya singled to right field scoring Barron for the walk-off win, 10-9.
SB��: with the bases loaded, Jalen Barron hits a bases-clearing double, and Kat Tafoya hits a 2-out RBI single for the walk-off 10-9 win for @VCPirateSB over @Cuesta_College. @vcscolleges pic.twitter.com/G34IFjyDib
— VC Athletics (@VCAthletics) May 6, 2021
Terrazas was 3-5 at the plate, including a double, with three runs scored and an RBI while Tafoya was also 3-5, including a triple, with three runs batted in. Pacheco drew three walks with a hit, scoring twice and Barron had three RBI on two hits, including a double. Morgan Albertsen went the distance in the circle for the Pirates to pick up the victory.
Ventura 3, Cuesta 6
The Pirates were unable to sustain their momentum from their walk-off win, dropping the second contest 6-3.
VC did take an early lead with a run in the first inning. Pacheco singled to start things off and De la Cruz followed with a walk. Barron walked to load the bases and Terrazas singled home Pacheco for the early advantage. A key double play by the Cougars mitigated the threat by the Pirates and VC left the bases loaded in the inning.
Cuesta came back with three runs in the top of the second, only one of which was earned. in the bottom half of the frame Ayala led off with a single, and scored on De La Cruz's sacrifice fly to right field. The Pirates still trailed 3-2 at the end of the inning.
The score remained until the top of the fifth when the Cougars scored twice for a 5-2 lead. they got an insurance run in the top of he seventh before Gallegos scored in the bottom half of the inning when De La Cruz grounded into a double-play. Ventura fell by a final score of 6-3.
Ayala and Gallegos each had two hits and scored a run while Pacheco had one hit and a walk, scoring once. Terrazas and De La Cruz each had an RBI in the game. Kat Tafoya took the loss, allowing six runs, four earned, while striking out nine batters for VC.
VC will host Cerritos for a scrimmage on Friday May 7 before hosting Bakersfield in a double-header on Thursday May 13.