VC Softball Splits Twin Bill at Canyons

The Ventura College softball team split a double header Thursday at College of the Canyons in Santa Clarita. The Pirates gave up a big first inning in the opener, falling 9-0 before coming back in the nightcap to come back from a 4-2 deficit to claim a 7-6 triumph. Samantha Soto singled and doubled, scoring two runs, and pitched the final frame in relief to preserve the win in the nightcap. Aubrey Aguirre also belted out a single and a double with three runs batted in to pace the VC offense.

A nine-run first inning by College of the Canyons put VC in an early hole it could not escape in the opener. The Pirates settled in behind reliever Jayla Raya, who provided stability out of the bullpen with 3.2 scoreless innings, keeping Canyons off the board the rest of the way and allowing the Pirates to regroup defensively.

Offensively, Ventura managed two hits against the Cougars, both singles from Baylany Magana and Paisley Magdaleno.

The Pirates used a three-run rally in the top of the sixth inning to complete a comeback and defeat COC 7-6 in the nightcap.

Trailing 4-1 after Canyons scored three in the first and another run in the second, VC strung together key at-bats to score one in the third and two more runs in the top of the fifth to tie the score. Ventura then plated three runs in the sixth frame to take its first lead of the day at 7-4, and held off a COC rally in the bottom half of the frame, closing out a road win in a game that featured 23 combined hits and multiple momentum swings.

Ventura finished with 12 hits and just one strikeout on the day, highlighted by a standout effort from Aguirre, who went 2-for-5 with three RBI. Aguirre drove in Ventura's run in the top of the third to cut the deficit to 4-2, then figured prominently again in the decisive sixth as the Pirates converted their offensive pressure into the go-ahead runs. Abby Ibarra also contributed early, driving in VC's first run in the top of the first.

Canyons seized early control with a three-run bottom of the first. The Cougars added another run in the second to build a 4-1 lead.

After VC's fifth-inning push, Canyons answered again in the bottom of the sixth, scoring twice.

In the circle, Magana earned the win for the Pirates, working six innings and navigating the Cougars' persistent offense. She allowed 11 hits and six earned runs while striking out three and walking four. Soto came on to record the final three outs of the game in the seventh.

The Pirates next head to LA Valley on Tuesday Feb. 17 to take on Imperial Valley and the host Monarchs.