IRVINE — Liliana Escobar struck out 12 batters to lead JSerra to a 3-2 victory over La Mirada in the Southern Section Division 1 softball championship on Friday at Bill Barber Field in Irvine. JSerra secured its first Southern Section Division 1 softball championship with the win.

JSerra took an early lead by scoring three runs in the first two innings. Magenta De Arte delivered an RBI single in the first inning, followed by RBI doubles from Ava Born and Annabel Raftery in the second. La Mirada responded with two runs in the fifth inning but could not overcome the deficit.

Escobar walked five batters during the game but held La Mirada scoreless over the final two innings to close out the victory. She finished the season with 252 strikeouts in 146 innings pitched.

JSerra completed its season with a 24-8 record. Annabel Raftery, a sophomore catcher, served as the team’s top hitter. La Mirada ended its season at 26-4. Riley Hilliard led the Matadores offensively, batting .577 with 10 home runs.

The two teams had met earlier in the season, with JSerra winning 5-2 on March 7. The Division 1 final was scheduled for Friday at 7 p.m. at Bill Barber Park in Irvine, also known as Bill Barber Field.

Escobar’s performance capped a season in which she accumulated 252 strikeouts over 146 innings. JSerra’s victory marked its first title in the Southern Section Division 1, the highest competitive level in the CIF Southern Section softball playoffs.