After surrendering six runs in the top of the sixth inning to fall behind, 11-8 against Riverside City College, the Cerritos College softball team had one big swing left in the tank. In the bottom of the sixth inning, sophomore second baseman Jenny Collazo (Paramount HS) launched a one-out grand slam to lead the Falcons to a 12-11 non-conference win over the Tigers at Nancy Kelly Field on Friday afternoon.

The team has little time to celebrate, as they jumped on a bus right after the game to travel to San Marcos to take on defending CCCAA State Champion Palomar College at noon on Saturday.

Riverside (0-1) was still riding the high of a grand slam by Danielle Lopez in the top of the sixth to put the team back on top. They scored two runs in the top of the first inning and trailed 5-2 before tying the game at 5-5. Cerritos (2-0) scored three times in the bottom of the fifth inning before the Tigers countered with six runs off eventual winning pitcher Jenny Navarro (Warren HS).

In the bottom of the sixth inning, Navarro (2-0) drew a one-out walk before consecutive singles by sophomore catcher Jesseca Martinez (Lakewood HS) and sophomore third baseman Camille Manzo (La Habra HS/Sterling (KS) College). That set the table for Collazo, who drilled the first offering from Emily Wilcox for the go-ahead grand slam.

In the top of the seventh inning, Riverside had a runner on second base until Navarro struck Lopez out looking to end the game. At the plate, Navarro clubbed a solo home run in the second inning, while she doubled and scored in the fifth inning.

Freshman first baseman Kylee Brown (Mayfair HS) had three hits, while Navarro, Collazo and freshman outfielder Kimberly Olivas (Warren HS) each had two hits. Olivas blasted her first home run of the season in the fourth inning.

Photos by Daryl Peterson