Trailing 6-3 after five innings, the Cerritos College softball team scored the next five runs to pull out a thrilling 8-6 win in eight innings over Mt. San Antonio College. The win by the Falcons (9-5, 7-1) puts them in sole possession of first place in the South Coast Conference, while the team will now host both Fullerton College (10:00 a.m.) and defending state champion Palomar College (1:00 p.m.) on Saturday at Nancy Kelly Field.

The comeback started with a single run in the top of the sixth inning and continued with two runs in the top of the seventh to send the game to extra innings. Cerritos eventually completed the comeback and win the game with two more runs in the top of the eighth inning.

Freshman Krystal Purkey (Gahr HS) clubbed a solo home run on the top of the sixth inning to get the team to within 6-4. In the top of the seventh inning, sophomore Stephanie Olivas (Warren HS) drew a one-out walk, followed by a base hit from sophomore Ariana Mejia (Gahr HS). The Falcons loaded the bases when sophomore Haley Whitney (Warren HS) drew a walk against losing pitcher Sabrina Garcia. Sophomore Jamie Ramirez (El Rancho HS) singled in a run to get the team to within 6-5 and then they tied the game on a sacrifice fly by sophomore Arianna Hernandez (Santa Fe HS).

One of the keys to Cerritos posting the win was the pitching of sophomore Kat Flores (El Rancho HS). Ramirez pitched the first three innings, and after allowing back-to-back doubles in the fourth inning. Flores came in and scattered seven hits over the final five innings, but did not allow a run. Her best came out in the bottom of the eighth when she allowed consecutive singles with two outs and then got a ground out to end the game.

The Falcons took the lead in the eighth inning when Purkey led off with a walk and freshman Monique Ramirez (Torrance HS) was hit by a pitch. An infield error loaded the bases for Olivas, who broke the tie when she was hit by a pitch, while the second run came on an infield out by Whitney.