Although they had nine hits through the first four innings, the Cerritos College softball team was clinging to a 1-0 lead over visiting Rio Hondo College in a South Coast Conference game on Tuesday. The Falcons then exploded for seven runs on five hits in the fifth inning, including a pair of two-run home runs and posted an 8-0, 5-inning win over the Roadrunners. Next up for Cerritos will be a 3:00 p.m. conference game against East Los Angeles College on Thursday.

In each of the first four innings, Cerritos had runners on base but only had an RBI single from freshman outfielder Marley Manalo (Walnut HS) to speak of. They left eight runners on base through the first four innings.

Keeping Rio Hondo in check was freshman pitcher Reanna Carranza (El Rancho HS), who was limiting the Roadrunners (11-12, 4-7) to just two hits through the five innings. Carranza (5-1) surrendered a two-out walk and a base hit in the fourth inning, but got Nadia Landeros to pop up to end the inning.

In the fifth inning, Manalo led off with a single and then came home on a two-run home run from freshman catcher Jimena Velazquez (Fullerton HS). Following the round-tripper, sophomore shortstop Miranda Diaz (California HS) drew a walk and scored on a two-run home run from sophomore third baseman Brooklyn Bedolla (Mayfair HS). The inning continued with sophomore designated player Maddy Guillen (La Puente HS) inducing a walk. Relief pitcher Lourdes Soria was then replaced by starter Clarissa Evangelista. She hit sophomore outfielder Alyssa Capps (Downey HS) on the first pitch. After the first out was recorded, freshman outfielder Jazmine Macias (La Mirada HS) laced a two-run double, with sophomore first baseman Richere Leduc (California HS) ending the game with an RBI single.

Leduc went 3-for-4, while Macias, Manalo, Velazquez and Guillen each had two hits.

Photos by Daryl Peterson