Playing a pair of non-conference games at Nancy Kelly Field on Saturday, the Cerritos College softball team picked up one win. The Falcons (23-8) opened with a 7-6 win over Saddleback College and then suffered a 10-1, 5-inning loss to Fullerton College. The team resumes South Coast Conference play on Tuesday with a 3:00 p.m. game at El Camino College.

Cerritos vs. Saddleback: Facing the Gauchos (12-15), the Falcons found themselves trailing, 3-1 after three innings. Heading into the bottom of the fourth inning, sophomore outfielder Mackenzie Kutzke (Los Alamitos HS/University of Montana) led off with a base hit and stole second base. With one out, sophomore outfielder Jezeree Misaalefua (Carson HS/Long Beach CC) singled to bring home Kutzke. Freshman pinch-hitter Stephanie Chuc (El Rancho HS) followed with a walk, with sophomore second baseman Jenny Collazo (Paramount HS) tying the game with a base hit. The second out was made at the plate on a fielder's choice with the bases loaded. Freshman outfielder Kimberly Olivas (Warren HS) drew a walk to force home another run, which was followed by a grand slam from freshman designated player Jissel Caballero (Warren HS).

The run total would turn out to be enough, although Saddleback did get three more runs in the top of the sixth inning to get the game to within 7-6. Freshman pitcher Kristen Voller (Norco HS), who came on as the team's third pitcher by the second inning, held off the Gauchos in the seventh inning when she got a comebacker for the final out with runners and first and third.

Cerritos vs. Fullerton: Coming right back, the Falcons once again found themselves trailing early, as they saw the Hornets score four times in the top of the first inning with the big blow a three-run home run from Anissa Loera. However, this time Cerritos wasn't able to get back into the game after scoring a once in the second inning on an RBI single from Misaalefua that plated Kutzke. Fullerton put six more runs on the board in the third inning, with Alexis Pintado providing a three-run home run. Navarro (7-1) suffered her loss of the year.

Kutzke and sophomore catcher Jesseca Martinez (Lakewood HS) each had two hits for the Falcons, who finished with eight in the game.

Photos by Daryl Peterson