Flinchum No-Hits Vaqueros as Pirates Win in Five

VC pitcher Ashlyn Flinchum did not allow a hit over five innings of work Thursday at Santa Barbara, striking out 10 batters as the Pirates defeated the Vaqueros 13-0. Ahlyssa Guzman, Lauren Albrent and Isabel Gallegos all hit home runs for the Pirates (26-12, 9-2) as they pounded out 11 hits to go with their 13 runs in the game.

Flinchum was dominant in the pitcher's circle, facing just four batters over the minimum. She recorded K's on 10 of the 15 outs in the game, striking out the side in the second and fifth innings. SBCC did not hit a ball out of the infield against the Pirate hurler.

Ventura took control early with a three-run first inning. Guzman beat out an infield single to lead off the game and scored when Leanna De La Cruz tripled. One out later Gallegos drew a walk and Ciana Garcia followed with a ground ball out to second to score De La Cruz. Isabella Ayala followed with an infield single to shortstop that scored Gallegos for the 3-0 advantage.

VC scored again in the third. Albrent led off with a triple, then Gallegos hit a long foul-ball out to sacrifice the run home.

The Pirates broke the game open with a four-run fourth inning. Jocelyn Ortega reached first on an error and Abby Strong followed with a single. Guzman reached base on a fielder's choice on which Ortega was forced out at third, and De La Cruz got on base on an error to load the diamond. The runners moved forward one base on a wild pitch scoring Strong, and Albrent followed with a three-run shot to left field for an 8-0 Ventura lead.

Ventura kept the hammer down in the fifth with five more runs, all coming with two outs. Strong singled and came home on Guzman's two-run home run. De La Cruz then singled and Albrent walked before Gallegos cleared the bases with VC's third home run of the game.

Flinchum struck out the side in the bottom of the fifth to close out the victory.

The Pirates will play their final game of the regular season on Tuesday April 26 at Santa Monica.