Rockhurst's Alex Jacobson Breaks NCAA Home Run Record

Between March 22-29, Rockhurst University softball player Alex Jacobson of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, cleared the fences in eight consecutive games, breaking the NCAA softball record in all divisions for consecutive games with a home run.

The senior third baseman’s streak started in the first game of a doubleheader at Missouri University of Science and Technology with a solo home run in the first inning March 22. In game two at S&T, she hit a three-run home run in the sixth inning to power the Hawks to a 4-3 win. Jacobson also hit home runs in road doubleheaders at Drury on March 23, William Jewell on March 26 and Maryville on March 29. Her streak ended at the University of Missouri-St. Louis on March 30.

“I always hit well on the road. I didn’t think much about the streak until the sixth game. I am seeing the ball much better,” said Jacobson, who leads the Hawks with 10 home runs this season and has hit 28 career home runs over the past four seasons.

During her eight-game home run streak, the right-handed hitting Jacobson batted .481, with 17 RBIs, 10 runs scored and a 1.222 slugging percentage. Rockhurst, which competes in the Great Lakes Valley Conference, posted a 6-2 record during Jacobson’s home run streak.

Jacobson’s record-setting streak broke the previous NCAA record of seven, which was set by Christie Softy of Division II’s Long Island-Post in April of 2010. The Division I record for consecutive games with a home run is six and the Division III record is five in a row.

“Alex made a small adjustment to her swing,” said Rockhurst softball coach Galen Struve. “She struggled last year (five home runs with a .207 batting average). She has always been in great shape and takes care of herself.”

Jacobson is the first Rockhurst athlete to break an NCAA record. Rockhurst, which became an active NCAA Division II member in 1998, added softball in 2004.