A four RBI game from LBCC right fielder Lela Asi helped propel the Vikings softball team past the red hot Cerritos College Falcons in a 9-1 win for the Vikings on Tuesday.
Both teams entered the game on large win streaks, with Cerritos having won 14 in a row and LBCC 10 in a row.
This, however, was seen as just another match for the Vikings, who didn’t let Cerritos’ impressive streak impact their confidence.
“I think it’s helpful to not read into what the other teams are doing and just focus on how I can be successful,” starting pitcher and first baseman Ella Haugo said.
The Vikings offense shined in the early stages of the game, putting up five runs in the first two innings and setting the stage for what would be a blowout victory.
Haugo pitched an impressive nine strikeouts in the matchup along with a base hit, helping her team greatly on both sides of the ball.
Being patient in the batter’s box was a sentiment many on the team shared that was on the forefront of their minds throughout the game.
“During the game, I just kept reminding myself not to let the moment get too big, to calm my breath and calm myself down,” Asi said.
Head coach of the Vikings, Megan Martinez, noted the importance of the team’s collective mentality going into each and every game this year.
“We play every game like it’s a conference championship or a national title, and we prepare for it every single day, whether it’s the last-place team or the first-place team that we’re playing,” Martinez said.
Haugo also added how much the team has improved since the middle of the season, allowing them to make this late push in their division before the playoffs begin.
“I think that everyone is just doing their job, whether it’s in the field, in the circle and in the batter’s box, everyone’s doing what they have to do,” Haugo said. “In the middle of the season, no one was really doing that and we were kind of at a low.”
LBCC played its final regular-season game on Tuesday against El Camino College in a 5-3 loss and we begin regional play on Friday.
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