Sophomore second baseman Regina Ayala (Santa Fe HS/University of Louisiana at Monroe) drove in the lone run in the top of the first inning to lead the Cerritos College softball team to a 1-0 season-opening win at Ventura College on Monday. The win came after the first two scheduled games were postponed due to wet weather. The Falcons (1-0), who opened the season ranked #7 in the state, will now host Antelope Valley College at 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday.

Freshman outfielder Arianna Hernandez opened the game with a base hit and advanced to second base when sophomore catcher Katie Caraballo (El Rancho HS/Fullerton College) drew a walk. Ayala followed with a base hit to center field off Alexandra Thorpe (0-1) to drive home Hernandez.

Sophomore starting pitcher Lily Cornejo (Paramount HS) pitched the first 3 1/3 innings and allowed just one hit and one walk. She was relieved by sophomore Kayla Klein (La Habra HS/Texas A&M University), who posted seven strikeouts in the final 3 2/3 innings to earn the win. She inherited one runner on base in the fourth inning and after a passed ball and walk, posted a strikeout and ground out to end the inning. She used an inning-ending double play to get out of a jam in the sixth inning.

Hernandez went 3-for-3 on the day, while Ayala had a pair of hits for the Falcons.

Photo by Daryl Peterson