It looks as if Cerritos College softball head coach Kodee Murray has found the best way to utilize freshman Sammie Klein (La Habra HS). In her third straight at-bat in as many games, Klein has clubbed a pinch-hit home run, with the third being a game-ending three-run blast in 14-4, five-inning win against El Camino College on Tuesday at Nancy Kelly Field. Klein, who came on as a pinch-hitter in the bottom of the fifth inning, launched a 1-1 pitch over the left-center field fence to enact the mercy rule. She hit a grand slam against Bakersfield College and a two-run home run against ECC Compton Center. The Falcons (12-6, 6-1) will now host Los Angeles Harbor College at 3:00 p.m. on Thursday.

The Warriors (5-13, 3-4) jumped on sophomore starting pitcher Lily Cornejo (Paramount HS) for four runs on six hits in the top of the first inning. But the Falcon bats wasted no time in cutting into that early deficit, as they scored once in the first inning and four runs each in the second and third stanza before putting five runs on the board in the fifth inning.

Sophomore designated player Gina Ayala (Santa Fe HS/University of Louisiana at Monroe) drove in the first run with first-inning a single, which plated sophomore first baseman Andrea Arellano (Downey HS). Arellano, who would go on to drive in four runs and score four times, singled home a pair of runs in the second inning and launched a two-run blast in the third inning.

In the second inning, sophomore catcher Katie Caraballo (El Rancho HS/Fullerton College) doubled with one out and advanced to third base on a single by freshman outfielder Danah Vasquez (Santa Fe HS). Freshman outfielder Arianna Hernandez (Santa Fe HS) brought home Caraballo with a single, while a blooping single into right field by Arellano drove home two more runs. Ayala picked up her second RBI of the game with a double.

Freshman third baseman Ariana Mejia (Gahr HS) clubbed a two-run home run in the fifth inning, while a walk to Ayala and a single by sophomore shortstop Ashley Miller (West Torrance/North Platte, NE CC) set the table for Klein, who has three home runs and nine RBI on her four hits this season.

Cornejo was replaced in the third inning by sophomore Kayla Klein (La Habra HS/Texas A&M University), who limited El Camino to one hit and a pair of walks, while striking out six to earn the victory.

Photo by Daryl Peterson