Doing everything within their power to secure a postseason bid, the Cerritos College softball team earned a 16-5, 6-inning South Coast Conference win over host Chaffey College on Monday. Entering the day, the Falcons (17-17, 11-9) were 18th in the RPI among Southern California teams, while the Panthers (20-14, 10-8) were in the #16 spot. There are 18 teams that make the SoCal Regional Playoffs. The team will get another chance to improve their position on Tuesday when they travel to Fullerton College for a 3:00 p.m. non-conference game. The Hornets (28-6) are currently #5 in the RPI ranking.
The win by Cerritos propelled them to #15 in the RPI rankings in Southern California, while the Panthers slipped to #18.
Locked in a tight game, the Falcons broke open a 6-5 game with three runs in the fourth inning and seven big runs in the sixth inning to invoke the eight-run mercy rule.
Sophomore designated player Kayla Hernandez (Santa Fe HS) had a huge day for Cerritos, as she opened the scoring in the top of the first inning with a three-run home run. In the top of the fourth inning, freshman outfielder Haley Davis (Mayfair HS) led off with a single, while sophomore shortstop Tena Spoolstra (Mayfair HS) drew a walk. Up stepped Hernandez, who drove both in with a double.
In the all-important sixth inning, Hernandez led off with a walk, followed by a single from freshman outfielder Itzel Soto (Long Beach Millikan HS). After sophomore catcher Deja Sendejas (El Rancho HS) was walked, freshman third baseman Sophia Collazo (Paramount HS) drew a walk to force in a run. With one out, sophomore first baseman Keira Bolinas (Torrance HS) laced a two-run double, followed by a walk to Spoolstra, which loaded the bases once again. Hernandez drove in a run with the team's 10th walk of the day, with Soto closing out the scoring with a two-run single.
Sophomore pitcher Sierra Gerdts (Montebello HS) tossed the final three innings of the game, which included her retiring nine of the 11 batters she faced. Sophomore Skyler Swearingen (Mayfair HS) started the game and earned the win.
Bolinas and Davis each had three-hit days and both drove in a pair, while Hernandez collected six RBI and recorded two hits. Also recording two hits were, Sendejas and sophomore outfielder Victoria Medina (Whittier HS/Rio Hondo College). Spoolstra drew three walks and scored all three times.