The Cerritos College softball team posted a 7-1 win over host College of the Canyons on Saturday to take a 1-0 lead in their best-of-three series in the Southern California Regional Playoffs. The Falcons (24-17), seeded #11, will look to complete the series win over the #6-seeded Cougars (28-11-1) when they play the second game of their series on Sunday at noon. If a third game is needed, it will be played 30 minutes after the conclusion of the first game.

Cerritos took advantage of two Canyons errors in the top of the first inning to take an early 2-0 lead. Sophomore outfielder Joanna Perruccio (Long Beach Wilson HS) reached base on an error when the throw to first base from her bunt was dropped by second baseman Julianna Carlos, who was taking the throw. With one out, freshman third baseman Jennifer Navarro (Warren HS) drew a walk. Freshman shortstop Jenny Collazo (Paramount HS) reached base on a fielder's choice and advanced to second on another error by Carlos, which allowed Perruccio to score. Sophomore catcher Krystal Purkey (Gahr HS) followed with an RBI single.

Sophomore pitcher Ana Pedroza (La Mirada HS/Caldwell (NJ) College) was spectacular in the circle and limited the Cougars to just one run on four hits. She was helped along by a couple of strong defensive plays, while one base running error by Canyons ended their fifth inning abruptly. After Cheyenne Steward drove in Milana Casillas - who led off with a triple - from third base on a sacrifice fly, they put runners on first and second base with one out. Lauren Anderson grounded to Collazo, who threw to Navarro at third base to cut down the lead runner. However, Kaitlyn Shreves failed to advance from first to second on the play and was forced out at second base to end the threat.

Perruccio, who did her damage on offense by reaching base twice and scoring two runs, stole a hit from Jennifer Metcalf to lead off the sixth inning. Coming in fast to chase down a looping fly ball, Perruccio dove to catch the ball for the first out, while Pedroza went on to retire the next six batters to end the game.

Sophomore first baseman Crystal Cano (Norwalk HS/Lynn (FL) University) broke open a 3-1 game when she blasted a three-run home run in the sixth inning for a 6-1 lead. Freshman designated player Raquel Norzagary (Pioneer HS), who had three hits, led off with a single, while Perruccio laid down a perfect bunt to put to runners on base. Cano lifted a deep fly ball to left field that hit the top of the outfield fence and fell over for a home run - her 14th of the season. Sophomore outfielder Haley Petruccelli (Torrance HS) added an RBI single before the end of the inning.