Facing #1-seeded Mt. San Antonio College in a best-of-three series in the first round of the Southern California Regional Playoffs, the Cerritos College softball team suffered a 10-1, 5-inning loss on Friday. The #17-seeded Falcons (21-20) advanced to the first round after an 11-2, 5-inning win over #16-seeded Orange Coast College on Tuesday in their play-in game. The second game of the series is scheduled for 11:00 a.m. on Saturday at Mt. SAC (36-4) which is a must-win game for Cerritos if they are to keep their season alive.
After a rough first inning where sophomore pitcher Sierra Gerdts (Montebello HS) surrendered a two-out, two-run home run to Jessika Trujillo, Cerritos got runners on base in the second and third innings, but could not cash them in for runs. Gerdts (9-4) retired the next four batters after allowing the round-tripper, but got into trouble again in the third inning. By the time the dust had settled, the Mounties had scored seven runs on eight hits, including a three-run home run.
Needing to get on the board to prevent the eight-run mercy rule, sophomore designated player Kayla Hernandez (Santa Fe HS) drew a walk with one out, followed by a base hit from freshman outfielder Itzel Soto (Long Beach Millikan HS). Pinch-runner Melissa Corona (Gahr HS) moved to third base on a fielder's choice, but the Falcons could not get on the board.
After Mt. SAC added another run in the bottom of the fourth inning, Cerritos was finally able to break through. Freshman third baseman Sophia Collazo (Paramount HS) led off the fifth inning with a double, and after she advanced to third on a passed ball, sophomore pinch-hitter Nicoal Magdaleno (La Habra HS) singled her home. Sophomore first baseman Keira Bolinas (Torrance HS) then singled, and with one out freshman outfielder Haley Davis (Mayfair HS) also dropped in a single to load the bases. However, that would be all the offense generated by the Falcons and the game came to a conclusion.