Softball: Jacobo home run lifts Long Beach to 4-2 win over Pasadena

Long Beach City College sophomore Mariah Jacobo (La Serna HS) smashed a two-run home run in the bottom of the third inning to break a 1-1 tie as the Vikings beat the visiting Pasadena City College Lancers 4-2 on Tuesday. Long Beach has won five of its last six games, including three straight to improve to 15-12 overall and 7-6 in South Coast Conference play.

Pasadena took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first thanks to a two-out RBI single by Derek Blow before the Vikings came right back to tie the game up in the bottom of the inning. Sophomore Brianna Alvarez (Montebello HS) advanced to second base on a dropped fly ball by PCC centerfielder Cynthia McKeehan. After stealing third base, Alvarez came in to score when Lancer catcher Holly Riker-Sloan's pickoff attempt hit Jacobo while standing in the batter's box.

The Vikings took the lead for good in the third. Freshman Yulissa Dominguez (Santa Fe HS) led off with an infield single and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by sophomore Doreen Corella (San Pedro HS). Jacobo followed with her shot that easily cleared the fence in left field. She currently leads LBCC with three home run and 25 RBI.

Dominguez added to the Vikings' lead when she hit a two-out bunt single to score Alvarez in the bottom of the fourth.

Sophomore Brooke Loard (Millikan HS) pitched well and allowed just three hits over the first five innings. She gave up a solo home run to Blow in the sixth but closed the game allowing two runs and five hits in the complete-game victory. Loard struck out nine and improved to 8-7 overall.

Alyssa Madrid took the loss for Pasadena (17-13, 7-6 SCC) to fall to 8-9. She allowed two earned runs and five hits over six innings.

Long Beach returns to action on Thursday (Mar. 31) when the Vikings host East Los Angeles College in a 3 p.m. SCC game.