Viking_Yearbook_93

Right: Third base player Karin Jacobs tags out an opponent during a home game against the UnivereHy of Oregon. Photo by Scott Martin resulted by being able to have her sister as a teammate. That comfort zone translated into success at the plate. She was named co-Offensive Player of the Year. Jacobs garnered 56 hits in 51 games while batting .346 in 1991. “When I played third and she was on the mound, we were real close to each other and whenever one of us got into trouble we could always just come over and talk to each other and make sure everything was OK,” she said. “And it just helps having your big sister on the team I think.” It was a lot easier for Jacobs to have her big sister just a softball’s throw away. It helped in terms of putting the young sophomore at ease when the ner­ vousness of being a first-year contribu­ tor cropped up. “I get nervous really easy too, and it made me feel a lot more comfortable knowing she was out there,” she said. “It was a lot easier.” Her softball resume while attending Portland State is impressive. Last sea­ son she batted .290 with 28 RBI’s and 23 runs scored while helping lead the Vikings to a stellar 40-14 record. Along the way, Jacobs collected the game-winning hit against Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo in the 11th inning of the Bakersfield Classic championship game. She was named to the All- Tournament team at the Sonoma Invitational, and made the NCAA West Region All-Tournament team in last year’s playoffs. Not a bad way to spend only her second season in a Viking uni­ form. The Vikings returned to the NCAA Division II playoffs for the third year in a row last year despite having only four returning players from 1991. “I wasn’t really worried,” Jacobs said of the lack of experience on the 1992 team. “I knew that [head coach] Teri [Mariani] was getting some good players in and with the players that were returning I wasn’t worried at all. So I knew we were going to do well.” They were eliminated by Cal State- Bakersfied at the West Regionals, but a solid foundation was set for the 1993 season. And Jacobs was expected to be a big part of that. So far, she has come through. Through April 13, Jacobs has shined at the plate. Her .362 batting average leads the team. She has collected 21 hits in 58 plate appearances. Her 21 runs scored also leads the team. Her three triples ties her with teammate Cathy Eason for tops on the Viking squad. Jacobs owes her offensive improve­ ment this season (up from .290 one year ago) to a change in the batting order. Mariani moved her to the top of the order as the leadoff hitter and it has paid instant dividends. “I think it’s helped a lot with my confidence because I feel a lot better hitting first,” she said. “Because I know that you have to be a pretty good hitter to hit leadoff so if Teri [Mariani] thinks I’m that good of a hitter, she’ll put me there, and she did.” The Vikings are a better team since the move. And thanks to big sister Kristin, Portland State softball will reap the benefits for the remainder of Jacobs’ playing days as a Viking. Storif hy Cfkris \lVnlson