WALNUT, CA — The South No. 4 Seed Cerritos College Falcons scored six combined runs in the sixth and seventh innings to upset South No. 2 Seed Mt. SAC 8-2 in a winners bracket game in the 3C2A Softball State Championships, Friday at Mt. SAC.

Sophomore first baseman Richere Leduc led the way for Cerritos with four RBIs, a three-run home run, and a go-ahead RBI double.

With the win, Cerritos (33-14) advances to play Palomar, which will be played Saturday at Noon. Mt. SAC will play at 8 p.m. tonight against the winner of Folsom Lake and Cypress.

With the game tied 2-2 in the top of the six Jazmine Macias led off with a double to right field to get the Falcons into scoring position. Leduc stepped up next and doubled down the left field line, scoring Macias to give Cerritos the 3-2 advantage. Miranda Diaz added to the lead later in the inning when she doubled in Brooklyn Bedolla and Leduc to extend the lead to 5-2.

Leduc put the game away in the top of the seventh when she hit a three-run shot over the center field fence to score Macias and Sotelo putting the Falcons up 8-2.

Postgame with @CerritosFalcons Richere Leduc. 4 RBIs, HR, double pic.twitter.com/t3XceQAfnj

— 3CFCA (@3CFCA) May 19, 2023

Cerritos sophomore pitcher Samantha Islas went the distance for the Falcons, allowing just four hits and two earned runs to improve her record to 22-7.

Alyssa Sotelo opened the game with a leadoff single in the first inning and scored on an infield error by Mt. SAC to give Cerritos a 1-0 lead. Sotelo finished the game with three hits, two runs, and an RBI.

Postgame with @CerritosFalcons Miranda Diaz, 2RBIs, double pic.twitter.com/X3AO2ggbnJ

— 3CFCA (@3CFCA) May 19, 2023

Islas retired seven consecutive Mountie batters before Mt. SAC second baseman Asia Chacona hit a leadoff solo home run to tie the score 1-1 in the fourth inning. The Mounties loaded the bases but Islas got out of the jam before allowing any more damage.

Mt. SAC starter Mirannda Rodriguez (6.2 IP, 8 H, 5 R) retired eight straight batters going into the top of the fifth before walking designated player Maddy Guillen. Guillen then stole second and scored on a single up the middle by Sotelo for the 2-1 lead.

Mt. SAC tied the game, 2-2, in the fifth with a one-out double by sophomore shortstop Katelyn Olson, who scored on a bases-load hit batter. The Mounties loaded the bases for the second straight inning but couldn't bring any more runners across the plate.

Cerritos rallies late to take down Mt SAC

Box Score: https://t.co/tqMJOiOpBj pic.twitter.com/O5ypfOURIg

— 3CFCA (@3CFCA) May 19, 2023

John M. Sherrard (3C2A)

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