Softball Falls to Ventura 6-4

By Jimmy Friery

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – The Santa Barbara City College Softball team (8-12, 1-1) dropped their first home conference game against Ventura on Tuesday, 6-4. After winning at Hancock last week, the team now sits at 1-1 in the Western State Conference (WSC) North standings.

Playing last year's WSC North champions, it was anticipated to be a tough matchup for the Vaqueros. They got on the board first, though, plating a run in the bottom of the first inning. Leadoff hitter Bella Cox worked a 3-2-count walk, advanced to second on an out, then stole third and scored on the errant throw.

But Ventura quickly countered in the top of the second via a two-run single. After a scoreless third, the visitors scored three more in the fourth to take a 5-1 lead.

Santa Barbara kept it close, though. Aila Leoffler's RBI double got a run back, and then Ruby Bartholomew's two-out, two-run single make it 5-4.

That was, unfortunately, all the Vaqueros could muster offensively. The hosts went nine up, nine down in the final three innings while Ventura tacked on an insurance run in the sixth to get to the 6-4 final.

Bartholomew pitched the final 3.1 innings, allowing just the one run and striking out four. Cox (two walks), Leoffler (double, single), and Gracie Verdugo (single, walk) all reached base twice against Ventura's Emma Estrella—who had not given up a run in her previous nine innings.

This was the Vaqueros third home game in a month, so they will be happy to have another home game later this week. Santa Barbara hosts Santa Monica for another WSC North matchup Thursday at 2 p.m. at Pershing Park.