After the first inning of their South Coast Conference game, the Cerritos College softball team looked to be in a good position to post a win over Long Beach City College on Friday at Nancy Kelly Field. The Falcons scored a pair of runs against the Vikings, but could not add to their total and dropped an 8-2 game on Friday. The loss drops Cerritos to 16-9 overall and 7-6 in conference play. They will travel to Santiago Canyon College on Monday at 3:00 p.m. for a non-conference rain make-up game.

In their productive first inning, sophomore outfielder Jazmine Macias (La Mirada HS) led off with a triple down the right field line and then scored on a one-out single by sophomore shortstop Marley Manalo (Walnut HS). Sophomore outfielder Nadia Landeros (Warren HS/Rio Hondo College) followed with an RBI double to give the Falcons an early 2-0 advantage.

However, a six-run fourth inning by Long Beach City enabled them to open a 7-2 advantage they would not relinquish. A leadoff home run off sophomore pitcher Reanna Carranza (El Rancho HS) started the inning for the Vikings, while three consecutive hits later in the stanza brought home runs to extend their lead.

Cerritos struggled to generate any offense after the first inning. They did get a leadoff single and stolen base by Macias in the third inning, but could not build on it. Sophomore catcher Jimena Velazquez (Fullerton Union HS) opened the fourth inning with a double but was stranded at third base, which would be the final hit of the day for the Falcons.

Macias and Landeros were the only two players to reach base twice, as both had a hit and a walk.

Photos by Daryl Peterson