Portese doubled to lead off the bottom of the first and scored on Natalie Orosco’s sacrifice fly. The score stayed 1-0 until the sixth when Long Beach (11-10) took the lead on Shanise Compton’s homer and a fielder’s choice that scored Melisa Sponholz.
Roxanne Hugo singled to lead off the sixth for the Vaqueros (9-8) and Celeste Acosta reached on a bunt. Following a strikeout, Portese hit a shot off the third baseman’s glove to load the bases.
Bryn Thompson grounded out to first, bringing in Hugo with the tying run. Acosta came home on a wild pitch and on the very next pitch, Portese scored on a passed ball.
Portese moved from the 5 or 6 spot in the batting order to leadoff in Thursday’s 12-3 win at Hancock. She had two homers and two doubles in that game.
“It was nerve-wracking at first but I just need to remember that I can do it and I’m a good player, then I have the confidence to do it,” said Portese, who’s batting .615 (8-13) in her last three games. “We’re a good comeback team. As soon as we get a little pressure on us, that’s when we just explode.”
Alyse Harris went the first five innings on the mound, allowing six hits and striking out five. After she gave up the leadoff homer and another batter reached on an error in the sixth, Acosta replaced her. Acosta (4-2) was sharp, escaping a two-on, no-out situation in the sixth. She gave up a one-out single in the seven, then ended the game with a strikeout and groundout to short.
“We had 17 hits (Thursday in a 12-3 win at Hancock), then only six today,” said coach Paula Congleton. “We were telling them to make adjustments but they weren’t doing it. I don’t know how many fly balls we hit but it was a lot.
“Long Beach is a good team and we’re happy to get the win. It shows the solid ability of our kids and their fortitude to drive forward.”
The Vaqueros host Cuesta in a WSC doubleheader on Tuesday at 1 and 3 p.m.
Long Beach …. 000 002 0 — 2 8 4
SBCC .………… 100 003 x — 4 6 4
Kennedy, Montanez (6) and Sponholz; Harris, Acosta (6) and Larabell. W–Acosta 4-2. L–Kennedy.
2B–SB: Portese. HR–LB: Compton, 6th inn., none on.
