Ventura Uses Late-Inning Surge to Defeat Moorpark

A four-run sixth inning followed by three more in the seventh lifted Ventura to an 8-3 road victory over Moorpark on Thursday. Baylany Magana had a pair of hits, including an RBI double that scored the game-tying run, and Samantha Soto hit a solo home run and knocked in two scores. Erika Sanchez reached base three times with a pair of singles and a walk and Emma Estrella pitched a complete gam to pick up the win.

Trailing 3-1 heading into the sixth, VC broke through with a decisive rally to seize control. The Pirates sent multiple hitters to the plate in the frame, capitalizing on key contact and Moorpark defensive miscues to push four runs across and take a 5-3 lead. Ventura then added three insurance runs in the seventh to put the game out of reach and close out the Western State Conference matchup.

Soto provided one of the game's biggest swings, belting a home run as part of Ventura's seven-hit attack. Soto finished 1-for-4 with two RBIs and a run scored, helping anchor the middle of the Pirates' lineup. Magana also came up with critical production, going 2-for-5 with a double, two RBIs and a run scored, fueling the late-inning surge that turned the game in VC's favor. Aubrey Aguirre and Isabella Padilla also knocked in runs for the Pirates.

Estrella steadied VC in the circle after a fast Moorpark start. The Raiders opened with two runs in the first inning and added another in the fifth to build a 3-1 advantage, but Estrella settled in and kept MC off the board over the final two frames. The right-hander worked all 7.0 innings, allowing three runs on four hits with four walks and four strikeouts on 135 pitches, facing 33 batters in the complete-game win.

Ventura's offense finished with eight runs on seven hits while taking advantage of three Raider errors and multiple free bases. The Pirates stranded 10 runners but broke the game open when it mattered most, scoring seven of their eight runs over the final two innings. The Raiders managed three runs on four hits and left nine runners on base, unable to add on after its early lead.

The Pirates will continue Western State Conference play, opening a stretch of five home games in six contests, on Tuesday Mar. 24 hosting Oxnard at 2:00 pm at the VC Softball Complex.