Brianna Portese moved to the leadoff position and went wild on Thursday, belting two homers and two doubles in SBCC’s 12-3 softball win at Hancock. The WSC Gold Division opener was shortened to six innings by the 8-run rule.
The freshman outfielder from Las Vegas was 4-for-5 with two RBIs and four runs. She’s 6-9 with six RBIs in her last two games.
The Vaqueros (8-8, 1-0) racked up season highs for runs (12) and hits (17).
Tara Crawford and winning pitcher Alyse Harris went 2-3 with Crawford knocking in four runs and Harris two. Lauren Larabell was also 2-3 with two runs scored.
Harris tossed a four-hitter with eight strikeouts and one walk.
Portese moved up to the leadoff spot to replace the injured Samantha Cabada. She hit solo homers in the second and fifth innings as SBCC built a 10-0 lead.
“You talk about stepping up … Bri did an amazing job as the leadoff hitter,” said coach Paula Congleton. “One of her homers went 215 feet and the other one about 230, which is a long way in softball. This is a great way to start conference.”
The Vaqueros will play their third game in four days on Friday when they host Long Beach at 2:30 p.m. in a nonconference game.
(6 inn., run rule)
SBCC ..……… 311 322 — 12 17 2
Hancock …… 000 030 — 3 4 0
Harris and Larabell; Spencer and Voss. W–Harris 5-6. L–Spencer.
2B–SB: Portese 2, Larabell, Crawford. HR–SB: Portese (1), 2nd inn., none on; Portese (2), 5th inn., none on.
