MARAUDERS OUTLAST VENTURA 10-8

PHOTOS by Byron Devers

AVC Softball climbed back to .500 on the season with a needed win over the Ventura College Pirates. Despite five errors, AVC was able to generate enough offense with 15 hits to get the win.

The Marauders scored first in the bottom of the opening inning when Maritza Arroyo singled to score Alexa Alvarez. The Pirates came back scoring a run in the 2nd, and 3rd innings, as well as a 3-run inning in the top of the fourth, to take a commanding 5-1 lead.

Antelope Valley would bounce right back with a 4-run inning of their own. Jessica Munoz hit an RBI single, and Nayely Delgado hit a sacrifice fly to pull the Marauders within a couple of runs. Alexa Alvarez then singled to score Savannah Moakley. Maritza Arroyo tied it at 5-5 with another RBI single to score Munoz.

Ventura came roaring back with another 3-run inning in the top of the 5th. But AVC's offense would answer the challenge again with a second 4-run inning in the bottom of the 5th. 

Nayely Delgado brought home Ariel Nieto with a single. The Marauders then took a one-point lead off a pair of doubles from Alexa Alvarez and Kaitlyn Cronin that scored Delgado and Alvarez. 

Savannah Moakley added an insurance run with a big triple in the 6th inning to score Nieto. Moakley is now batting .529 on the season.

Arroyo and Alvarez finished with 2 RBIs each as Alvarez went 3-for-4, and Arroyo went 2-for-3. Delgado also had a pair of RBIs off one hit. Moakley continues to hit well as she ended 3-for-4 with an RBI. Arroyo also stepped up in the circle with three strikeouts after starter Briana Garrett left the game with a possible shoulder injury.

Kaitlyn Cronin finished 2-for-3 with an RBI, while Amy Manzo went 2-for-4 and scored twice, and Ariel Nieto went 1-for-2 and scored three times. 

The Marauders (6-6) will play in a one-day tournament in Hemet, and then on the road at Fullerton before returning home to face Oxnard College on Friday, February 28th at 2:30 pm.