Hosting East Los Angeles College in a South Coast Coast Conference game on Friday afternoon, the Cerritos College softball team recorded a 10-2, 5-inning win. The Falcons return to Nancy Kelly Field on Saturday at noon for a non-conference game against Palomar College.

The Huskies (2-11, 1-5) scored both of their runs in the top of the first inning, as freshman pitcher Mia Star Miramontes (Sierra Vista HS) was making her first start of the season. She allowed three hits and a walk in the inning, but settled down after that. Over the next 3 1/3 innings Miramontes (4-0) limited East LA to two hits and two walks, with freshman Marley Cortez (Gahr HS) coming into the circle for the first time on the year to record the final two outs.

Offensively, the Falcons tied the game in the bottom of the first inning and went on to score in four of the five innings. In the first inning, freshman outfielder Savannah Gonzalez (Whittier HS) drew a one-out walk, and followed by stealing second and third base. She then came home on a base hit from sophomore outfielder Morgan Fontela (Long Beach Millikan HS). After stealing second base and advancing on the throw, Fontela scored when sophomore designated player Briana Zarate (Legacy HS/Compton College) singled her home.

Cortez doubled in a run in the second inning, while Cerritos took advantage of three walks, a hit batter and three hits in the third inning to score five times. Fontela led off with a single and stole second base before Zarate drew a walk. After the first out was record, the Falcons loaded the base on a single from sophomore shortstop Ayiana Cardenas (Walnut HS) before freshman catcher Alexis Rosales (Pioneer HS) got the scoring started with an RBI single. Bases loaded walks to freshman second baseman Irma Gonzalez (Artesia HS) and sophomore pinch-hitter Natalie Fraijo (Charter Oak HS) drove in two more runs, with Cortez getting hit by a pitch, which plated another run. The final run of the inning came when Gonzalez walked with the bases loaded.

Cerritos finished off the game with a pair of runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to invoke the eight-run mercy rule. Gonzalez reached on a fielder's choice, stole second base before freshman outfielder Brianna Bailon (Schurr HS) drew a walk. Sophomore third baseman Vicky Najera (El Rancho HS) singled home the first run, while a fielding error led to the game-ending run to score.

Cortez (2-for-3, two RBI), Gonzalez (two walks, two runs, RBI), Fontela (2-for-2, two runs, RBI) and Gonzalez (1-for-1, two walks, RBI, run) all had good days at the plate.

Photos by Daryl Peterson