SBCC got a powerful boost from its battery on Thursday as the Vaqueros overcame a slow start to beat L.A. Pierce 10-2 in a six-inning softball game at Pershing Park.
Pitcher Celeste Acosta came on in relief of Alyse Harris in the top of the first after the first four batters reached base without a hit. Trailing 1-0, Acosta entered with the bases loaded and quickly ended the threat with a pop-up and two strikeouts.
Acosta gave up just one run — a third-inning homer to Candice Lujano — on two hits. She struck out a season-high 10 with just one walk.
“I came in, kept my composure and tried to hit my spots,” said Acosta, who threw 11 pitches (all strikes) while striking out the side in the sixth. “My curve was breaking really well and my riseball was also working.”
Lauren Larabell, a freshman catcher, went 3-4 and drove in four runs with a pair of two-run singles. The Vaqueros (14-13, 5-3 WSC) erased a 2-1 deficit with six runs on five hits in the third inning.
Pierce fell to 5-20 overall and 1-8 in conference.
Larabell’s two-run single to right-center scored Kiersty Briner and Bryn Thompson in the sixth. Kylie Onstott tallied the 10th run on a wild pitch with one out to end the game on the eight-run rule.
“Our team did a good job of getting runners on base and I was able to get a few balls through,” said Larabell, who raised her team-high batting average to .400. “We have two good pitchers and we’ve been lucky. When one’s not on, the other one gets the job done.”
Bryn Thompson and Mariah Coyazo each had two hits. Thompson reached base four times and scored two runs.
“We thought Elyse would be able to dominate but she wasn’t getting the right strikes,” said coach Paula Congleton. “Pierce just beat Moorpark, so we’re not taking any team in our conference lightly.
“Celeste pitched great for six innings. We’re like the comeback kids and that’s the way it’s been all year. We never give up and we always fight back. They scored their runs early, so it gave us plenty of opportunity to come back.”
Congleton was proud of Larabell, who singled in the second, third and sixth innings.
“Larabell is doing a phenomenal job,” she said. “She’s caught every inning of every game, she’s our leading hitter and she’s a team leader. We’re really pleased with how she’s been playing.”
The Vaqueros will host the 12th annual Bash at the Beach this weekend. They’ll play Fullerton (noon) and Saddleback (4 p.m.) on Saturday and Golden West (11 a.m.) and Santa Monica (3 p.m.) on Sunday.
SBCC 10, LA PIERCE 2, 6 INNINGS
L.A. Pierce ………. 101 000 — 2 2 5
SBCC .………….… 016 003 — 10 9 3
Abrenica, Sixtos (5) and Becerra; Harris, Acosta (1) and Larabell. W–Acosta 7-4. L–Abrenica.
HR–LAP: Lujano, 3rd inn., none on.
