Playing yet another team ranked in the Top 5 in Southern California, the Cerritos College softball team came up short in a 4-3 non-conference loss to Palomar College on Wednesday at Nancy Kelly Field. The Falcons (25-12), ranked #5 in Southern California in the latest poll, have gone up against the four teams ranked ahead of them a combined nine times this season. Although they are still looking for their first win against them, the one-run loss was the third in those meetings. On Thursday, the team will play their third home game in as many days, as they host Los Angeles Harbor College in a 3:00 p.m. South Coast Conference game.

Cerritos took a 1-0 lead against the Comets (29-5) on a lead-off home run by freshman first baseman Kylee Brown (Mayfair HS). Palomar took a 2-1 lead in the top of the third inning on a two-out error that allowed both runs to score and then added another run in the top of the fourth inning. The Falcons were able to tie the game at 3-3 with a pair of runs in the bottom of the fourth inning.

Brown led off with a walk and advanced to second base on a single from sophomore outfielder Mackenzie Kutzke (Los Alamitos HS/University of Montana). Freshman pinch-hitter Brianna Vasquez (Downey HS) advanced both runners with a sacrifice bunt, which was followed by a run-scoring infield out from sophomore outfielder Jezeree Misaalefua (Carson HS/Long Beach HS) which tied the game. Sophomore second baseman Jenny Collazo (Paramount HS) drew the team even with an RBI single.

Palomar scored the eventual game-winning run in the top of the fifth inning on a solo home run from Brienna Dunckel off freshman relief pitcher Jissel Caballero (Warren HS), who took the loss. Cerritos was able to get Collazo to third base in the sixth inning, but could not score her.

Sophomore shortstop Camille Manzo (La Habra HS/Sterling (KS) College) went 3-for-4 in the loss, with Brown scoring twice, with Caballero reaching base twice on a pair of walks.