With a four-game week in front of them, the Cerritos College softball team battled back from a three-run deficit against Los Angeles Mission College to post a 9-5 non-conference win at Nancy Kelly Field on Monday. The Falcons (15-10) will come back on Tuesday to host Compton College in a 3:00 p.m South Coast Conference South Division game.

The Eagles (16-15) took a 3-0 lead in the top of the second inning on a three-run home run by Bella Mercado. Cerritos picked up a run in the bottom of the second inning on a sacrifice fly by freshman outfielder Kayla Aros (Torrance HS), but LA Mission's Mabel Calderon responded with a leadoff solo home run in the third inning. Going through the lineup for a second time against pitcher Gabby Monge, the Falcons tied the game with three runs in the third inning and took the lead for good with a pair of runs in the fourth inning.

Calderon spent the day pitching to the outside of the plate, and the Falcons were able to go with the ball, as all four of their third inning hits went to the right side. Sophomore outfielder Emma Wolff (Mayfair HS) opened the third inning with a bloop single to right field, while sophomore catcher Briana Lopez (Norwalk HS) followed with a single through the right side of the infield. Freshman shortstop Tena Spoolstra (Mayfair HS) advanced both runners with a sacrifice, with freshman outfielder Brianna Spoolstra (Mayfair HS) lacing a single to right field to drive in the first run of the inning. Lopez then scored on a wild pitch, with freshman designated player Deja Sendejas (El Rancho HS) tying the game with a single to right-center field.

The Falcons took the lead with a pair of runs in the bottom of the fourth inning when sophomore second baseman Rain Vega (La Mirada HS) led off with a single and moved to second base on a base hit from Lopez. Tena Spoolstra followed with an RBI double, while freshman first baseman Keira Bolinas (Torrance HS) lined a base hit off the glove of relief pitcher Andrea Lopez to drive in the second run of the inning. Freshman pitcher Sierra Gerdts (Montebello HS) faced a bases loaded situation in the top of the fifth inning, but struck out pinch-hitter Ariana Luna looking to end the inning.

Bolinas put Cerritos on top 8-5 with a two-run double in the bottom of the sixth inning, with freshman third baseman Kayla Hernandez (Santa Fe HS) lining a base hit up the middle to plate Bolinas. On the day, Bolinas went 3-for-3 with three RBI.

Gerdts (13-8) allowed an RBI double to Sydney Caballero in the top of the sixth inning, and with runners on first and second, she struck out Kristal Bendfeldt looking for her fifth strikeout of the game. She retired the final three batters in the seventh inning after giving up a leadoff double.