Pirates Retrun Home for Doubleheader Sweep

The VC softball team returned home for the first time in a month in style, sweeping past Victor Valley in a pair of five-inning games. The Pirates scored 27 runs on 23 hits on the day, led by Jennie Jacinto with five hits, including a double, and six runs batted in. Madison Shay had three hits, including a home run and a double, and seven RBI in the two games. Baylany Magana, Aubrey Aguirre, Lily Jimenez and Bryanne Magana shared pitching duties for Ventura (11-3).

Ventura 13, Victor Valley 3

In the first game of the day, the Pirates scored in each of their four at-bats while Ba. Magana and Aguirre limited the Rams to three runs, two earned, yielding just four hits.

Shay hits an RBI single and Jacinto batted in two runs with another single as VC took a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. 

In the second, Alyssa Castaneda doubled to lead off and scored on Sophia Valencia's single to center. two outs later, Savanna Higgins hit an inside-the-park home run to move the advantage to 6-0.

VC doubled the lead with six runs in the third, all scored with two outs. Valencia, Ba. Magana and Higgins all hit RBI singles and Shay knocked in a pair of runs with a double. Jacinto ended the frame with an RBI single for the 12-0 score.

Victor Valley broke through with two runs in the top of the fourth and the Pirates answered with a run in the bottom half of the column when Ba. Magana scored on a throwing error when Castaneda reached base on a fielder's choice.

The Rams crossed the plate for one more run in the top of the fifth before Aguirre closed the door recording the final two outs with runners on the corners.

Ventura 14, Victor Valley 5

Ventura began game two with a five-run first inning. Ba. Magana opened the contest with a home run to right field and Jacinto doubled in Higgins and Dakota Moore, all with no outs. Shay scored when Erika Sanchez grounded out to the pitcher and Jacinto scored when Jimenez grounded out to shortstop.

VVC answered with a four-run second inning to make a game of it temporarily, 5-4.

Jacinto singled to center to score Moore in the bottom of the second inning before VC plated two more runs in the third. Castaneda scored an unearned run when Ba. Magana reached base on a fielder's choice and Aguirre tripled home Br. Magana for the 8-4 lead.

The Rams scored another run in the top of the fourth and VC answered when Castaneda knocked in Jacinto in the bottom of the inning.

Ventura rallied to end the game in the bottom of the fifth. Valencia walked to open the frame and Ba. Magana followed with a single. Moore hit an infield single to load the bases and Maeghan DeVera reached base on a fielder's choice scoring Valencia. Shay then ended the game in walk-off fashion with a grand slam home run to right field to post the 14-5 victory.

Ventura next begins Western State Conference play hosting Santa Monica on Thursday Mar. 6 at 2:30 pm.