Jacobs takes title from Crystal Lake S.

ROCKFORD — Jacobs and Crystal Lake South played each other close during the regular season, so it was reasonable for the Gators to expect another close finish when the Fox Valley Conference rivals met for a regional title Friday.

Instead, the Golden Eagles scored 4 times in the third inning and came away with a relatively easy 6-2 victory and the championship of the Class 4A Jefferson softball regional.

Jacobs (21-11) will meet another FVC foe, Valley Division champion Cary-Grove, in Thursday’s semifinal of the Guilford sectional. The Trojans eliminated Jacobs in the sectional finals last year.

Trailing 1-0, the Golden Eagles, who won the program’s fourth regional title, batted around in the third. Kara Arceneaux slammed an RBI double, Jenna Teson and winning pitcher Marissa Lombardo contributed run-scoring singles, and the Eagles took advantage of one of several Gator errors.

Jacobs added single runs in the fourth and sixth, with Alyssa Lach doubling in an insurance run in the sixth.

Arceneaux, Lombardo, and Jackie Hengler each had 2 hits for the Golden Eagles.

Tori Stevenson drove in both runs for Crystal Lake South (19-10), with Sam McLean scoring both times.

Jacobs made no apologies for taking advantage of Gator miscues.

“We knew we were going to have to take advantage when we could,” said Eagles coach Jeremy Bauer. “We hit the ball hard and we scored some of the runs that we needed to when it mattered the most. Then we took the benefit of some of the mistakes, and that’s how it goes.”

South didn’t go quietly, forcing several full counts, especially late in the game. The Gators also left 10 runners on base.

“South’s a really good hitting team, so we knew as a pitcher and catcher that we had to throw our ‘A’ game for them,” said Lombardo (13-5), who teamed with catcher Autumn Campbell for a 5-hitter.

Lombardo escaped a bases-loaded jam in the sixth, striking out Jamie Beelow to end the inning. After issuing a leadoff walk to Liz Adams to start the seventh, she retired 3 in a row to end the game.

“We picked the worst possible day to play our worst game of the season,” said South coach Scott Busam. “I think that’s what it comes down to. I don’t know if it was pressure, I don’t know if it was nerves. I think Jacobs didn’t make any mistakes today. If we played a clean game, we’re playing extra (innings).”

Sam Golf took the loss for Crystal Lake South.