Celeste Acosta pitched both ends of a doubleheader on Saturday and Brianna Portese went 4-5 as SBCC swept Pasadena 5-4 and 5-2 in its home softball debut at Pershing Park.
Alexandra Abbott started the opener but left early after two walks, a hit batter, a passed ball and a wild pitch led to a 2-0 deficit in the first inning. Acosta came on with a runner on third and promptly got a strikeout and flyout to end the inning.
Acosta allowed just two runs (one earned) on four hits the rest of the way. The Vaqueros (2-1) scored five runs in the second. Christal Vierra singled, Amanda Caras doubled her home and Portese singled to right to tie the game at 2. Acosta singled, Dakotah Wilcox walked and Taylor Stanek brought them both in with a triple to right field. Stanek scored on a groundout to make it 5-2.
"I was ready to go in the first inning," said Acosta, who pitched a five-hitter with five strikeouts in the second game. "I knew when I got the first out, it would calm everyone down.
"My curve was working today and I'm happy we have a pitching coach now (ex-SBCC star Kailey Snyder). She makes great comments and helps me with my confidence."
SBCC erased a 1-0 deficit in the second game with three runs in the second inning and the first college home run by sophomore outfielder Brianna Gill leading off the third. Gill was 2-for-2 with an RBI.
"We had to make an early change in Game 1 and Celeste came in and took care of business," said coach Paula Congleton. "We got our bats going and we had a few mental and physical errors but we pulled it together.
"We hit the ball hard today and I was happy with the offense."
Shortstop Maddy Gianoli went 2-3 in each game for Pasadena (2-6).
The Vaqueros host L.A. Mission on Tuesday at 2:30 p.m.
