On Saturday afternoon, the Cerritos College softball team saw their season come to an end with a 10-5 Southern California Regional Playoff loss to College of the Canyons. The #9-seeded Falcons (22-18) led for the second day in a row, but could not stave off the #8-seeded Cougars (28-14), who scored in each of the last five innings.
The highlight of the day was a two-run home run from sophomore catcher Briana Lopez (Norwalk HS), who got the team to within 8-5 in the top of the sixth inning. It was her 19th of the season and left her one home run shy of tying the college's single-season record of 20 home runs hit by Samantha Vaaulu in 2009.
Cerritos opened the game by scoring single runs in the first two innings to take a 2-0 lead and added a third run in the next stanza. College of the Canyons scored once in the second inning and tied the game with a pair of runs in the third inning making it a 3-3 game. They took the lead for good with two more runs in the bottom of the fourth inning and went on to pull away.
In the first inning, freshman outfielder Kayla Aros (Torrance HS) walked with one out, moved to second base on an infield out and scored when freshman first baseman Keira Bolinas (Torrance HS) singled. With two outs in the second inning, freshman designated player Nicoal Magdaleno (La Habra HS) reached on an infield single, followed by a walk to sophomore outfielder Emma Wolff (Mayfair HS). Lopez, who finished the game with three RBI, drove in her first of the game with single up the middle to drive in Magdaleno.
The first three batters in the third inning reached, with freshman outfielder Brianna Spoolstra (Mayfair HS) lacing a single to center, followed by consecutive walks to Bolinas and freshman third baseman Kayla Hernandez (Santa Fe HS). That brought on a pitching change, with Joy Veloz striking out both Sendejas and sophomore second baseman Rain Vega (La Mirada HS). Magdaleno, who finished with three hits, gave the team a 3-1 lead with a base hit, but Cerritos left the bases loaded.
Three errors aided the Cougars, as three of their runs were unearned. Freshman Sierra Gerdts (Montebello HS) took the loss after allowing seven runs (five earned) in 4 1/3 innings.
The Falcons ended their season leading the state in walks for the sixth year in a row. However, they will not be able to add to their 163 total, with several teams not far behind still alive in the postseason.