Posting a pair of insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth inning, the Cerritos College softball team posted a 7-4 non-conference win over visiting Los Angeles Mission College on Saturday afternoon. The win by the Falcons (10-10) was their third in the last four games, as the team will host Cypress College at 3:00 p.m. Monday in another non-conference game at Nancy Kelly Field.

After the Eagles (11-11) closed to within 5-4 after Cerritos opened the game with a four-run second inning, it was two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning that locked up the win. With one out, both freshman outfielder Haley Davis (Mayfair HS) and sophomore shortstop Tena Spoolstra (Mayfair HS) clubbed singles and then stole a base, which put runners on second and third. Up stepped sophomore first baseman Keira Bolinas (Torrance HS), who singled both of them home.

Freshman starting pitcher Skyler Swearingen (Mayfair HS), who opened the game by pitching the first three innings, came back in to finish recording the final seven outs to earn the win. She allowed a sacrifice fly to make it a 5-3 game, while her own error in the sixth inning led to the fourth Eagles run of the game. Swearingen finished the day pitching 5 2/3 innings and allowed one run (unearned) on two hits and struck out six.

In the Falcons four-run second inning, freshman outfielder Itzel Soto (Long Beach Millikan HS) led off by reaching on an error, with sophomore cecond baseman Deja Sendejas (El Rancho HS) drawing a walk. A single by sophomore outfielder Victoria Medina (Whittier HS/Rio Hondo College) loaded the bases for freshman catcher Erica Martinez (Kennedy HS), who singled home the first run. Sophomore designated player Alize Lopez (John Glenn HS/Rio Hondo College) and Davis each brought home runs with sacrifice flies, while a bases loaded walk to sophomore third baseman Kayla Hernandez (Santa Fe HS) forced in the fourth run.

Spoolstra finished the day going 3-for-3 with two runs scored and three stolen bases, while Bolinas and Hernandez each drove in a pair of runs.

Photos by Daryl Peterson