Just one strike away from posting a win over #3-ranked Santiago Canyon College, the Cerritos College softball team surrendered five runs in a 7-5 non-conference loss at Nancy Kelly Field on Saturday. The Falcons (24-11) will have four home games next week and will start with a 3:00 p.m. South Coast Conference game against East Los Angeles College.

Leading 3-2 heading into the top of the seventh inning, freshman pitcher Jissel Caballero (Warren HS) was in line for the win. However, with one out, she allowed a double to Ashley Clark. Freshman pitcher Kristen Voller (Norco HS) came in to get the final two outs. After hitting Christine Woodling, she struck out pinch-hitter Lauren Hammond. The bases were loaded after Voller (15-10) hit Jordaen Hicks, which brought Caballero back into the circle. With two strikes on pinch-hitter Shannon Thornton, a fly ball was hit into very shallow center field.

Falcon center fielder Kimberly Olivas (Warren HS), running full speed, was able to get to the ball, but when she fell the the ground, the ball fell out of her glove and two runs scored. The next hitter, Emily Olague, hit a three-run home run on a 3-0 pitch for a 7-3 Hawks (30-6) lead.

Cerritos started a two-out rally in the bottom of the seventh and scored a run on an RBI double from Olivas, who then came home on a base hit by Caballero after left fielder Hicks overran the ball. Sophomore Jenny Navarro (Warren HS) came up and was one swing away from tying the game. But she grounded out to second base in a close play at the bag to end the game.

It was a two-run home run from freshman first baseman Kylee Brown (Warren HS) that gave Cerritos a 3-2 lead in the bottom of the second inning. Sophomore shortstop Camille Manzo (La Harba HS/Sterling (KS) College) got the team on the board with an RBI single in the first inning.

Photos by Daryl Peterson