Knowing they would be playing their next 11 games on the road, the Cerritos College softball team got things started with an 8-0 win over visiting ECC Compton Center at Nancy Kelly Field on Thursday. The win was their ninth in a row, as the Falcons (15-5, 11-1) remained in first place. Over the weekend, Cerritos will play four games at the Bakersfield Tournament, followed by three more games during the week and conclude with four games next weekend at the Ventura Tournament.

The Falcons opened the scoring in the bottom of the first inning when freshman outfielder Joanna Perruccio (Long Beach Wilson HS) reached base on a bunt hit. After stealing second base, Perruccio was driving in on a base hit from sophomore first baseman Haley Whitney (Warren HS). It was a four-run second inning that opened the game up, with sophomore third baseman Ariana Mejia (Gahr HS) clubbing a two-run double.

Sophomore pitchers Jamie Ramirez (El Rancho HS) and Kat Flores (El Rancho HS) each pitched three innings, while they both allowed harmless singles to the Tartars (14-9, 4-8). Ramirez (7-5) earned the win.

Four errors contributed to the Cerritos run support, as they committed two in the fourth inning, which led to a pair of runs. Sophomore shortstop Stephanie Olivas (Warren HS) produced RBI singles in the second, fourth and sixth inning, with her third hit ending the game.

Photos by Daryl Peterson