Heading into the bottom of the sixth inning, the Cerritos College softball team was hanging on to a slim 3-1 lead over Pasadena City College on Tuesday at Nancy Kelly Field. But the Falcon offense exploded for six runs to finish off the Lancers with a 9-1, six-inning South Coast Conference victory. The win improves the team's record to 6-5 overall and 2-1 in SCC play, while PCC dropped to 7-8 and 1-2. Cerritos will now travel to Long Beach City College for a 3:00 p.m. conference game on Thursday.

The Falcons had their fair share of chances to score, as the Lancer pitchers issued eight walks through the first five innings, but only cashed them in for three runs. Cerritos left the bases loaded in the third and fourth innings and had just five hits before the sixth inning.

But in the sixth inning, the team was able to string together five straight two-out hits to put an end to the game. Freshman outfielder Danah Vasquez (Santa Fe HS) opened the stanza with a double and finished the game with a two-run double, which gave the Falcons their eight-run advantage, enacting the mercy rule. Sophomore first baseman Andrea Arellano (Downey HS) drove home the first run of the inning with a base hit, while freshman third baseman Ariana Mejia (Gahr HS) added a sacrifice fly. Freshman Jamie Ramirez (El Rancho HS) and sophomore pinch-hitter Julia Mendoza (Los Altos HS) each added RBI singles before Vasquez (2-for-2, two walks) ended the game. Ramirez finished the game with three hits to lead the team.

Sophomore pitcher Lily Cornejo (Paramount HS) pitched the first 3 1/3 innings and allowed one run on five hits, which included three in the top of the first inning. She pitched her way out of that situation, but was pulled for sophomore Kayla Klein (La Habra HS/Texas A&M University) in the fourth inning after allowing a single and double. Klein surrendered a sacrifice fly and walk, but struck out Ashley Shaneberger to end the threat. Klein (3-1) went on to strike out six batters in 2 2/3 innings.

Photo by Daryl Peterson