Ventura struck first against East LA but could not hold the lead, falling 3-1 in the opener.
The Pirates grabbed early momentum in the top of the first inning, manufacturing the game’s opening run behind timely hitting. Erika Sanchez delivered an RBI in the frame to stake VC to a 1-0 advantage, and the Pirates’ pitching staff made that slim lead stand up through four innings.
ELAC broke through in the bottom of the fifth with a decisive three-run inning that flipped the game.
Ventura’s pitching was a bright spot despite the loss. Emma Estrella turned in an extended outing, working 5.2 innings in a relief effort, striking out nine. She allowed just three hits and three earned runs with two walks, keeping the Pirates within striking distance deep into the game.
Offensively, Ventura matched the Huskies with five hits but could not come up with the big swing in the late innings. Sanchez’s first-inning RBI stood as the Pirates’ lone run, while VC continued to threaten but left the bases occupied in multiple frames. Soto was a standout at the plate, going 3-for-3 to account for more than half of Ventura’s hit total.
Montes’ clutch 2 RBI performance helped East Los Angeles College (ELAC) Softball secure a key victory over Ventura College. The Huskies rely on this type of offensive firepower under head coach Erika Blanco to outlast tough opponents in the South Coast Conference.
Play By Play
| Innings | Play | V – H |
|---|---|---|
 Ventura1st |
Erika Sanchez singled up the middle, RBI (1-2 KSBFF); Layah Hicks advanced to second; Samantha Soto out at third cf to p to 3b; Baylany Magana scored. | 1 – 0 |
|
5th |
Nicole Monte singled to left field, 2 RBI (2-2 KKBBF); Danica Henriquez advanced to third; Emily Ramirez scored; Alexis Arguellas scored. | 1 – 2 |
|
5th |
Danica Henriquez scored on the throw. |
| Pitchers | IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO | HR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nadine Gutierrez (W, 12-4) | 7.0 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 0 |
