
Ventura College pitcher Baylany Magana gave up one hit and struck out five Thursday in the Pirates' 4-0 shutout victory over Cuesta at the VC Softball Complex. The freshman also had a hit, knocked in a run, and scored once to lead the team to a two-game lead in the Western State Conference standings with three games left on the WSC schedule. Alyssa Castaneda knocked out three hits and scored a run and Jennie Jacinto recorded one hit with an RBI.
Ba. Magana struck out three around a single in the top of the first to set the tone for Ventura from the circle. She received all the support she needed in the bottom of the third.
Sophia Valencia, Castaneda and Erika Sanchez all singled to lead off the inning to load the bases before Ba. Magana helped her own cause with an RBI single on a squeeze play. Castaneda and Sanchez then scored on a throwing error on the pitcher before Jacinto singled to left to score Magana for the 4-0 advantage.
Ventura (23-7, 10-1) now has a two-game lead on Moorpark and Santa Barbara, both 8-3 in conference play. All three teams have three games remaining in the conference season.
The Pirates next travel to Canyons on Friday Apr. 11 for a non-conference game before resuming WSC play on Tuesday Apr. 15 at Moorpark.