If not for a first inning error that led to the lone run in the game, the Cerritos College softball team put together one of their best pitching performances of the season. Host El Camino College capitalized on a Falcons miscue that led to the only run in a 1-0 South Coast Conference loss on Thursday. The team will look to rebound on Friday with an 11:00 a.m. non-conference game at Orange Coast College on Saturday.

In the bottom of the first inning, sophomore pitcher Sierra Gerdts (Montebello HS) gave up a one-out triple to Jocelyn Hernandez, who was able to come home and score on a throw that was off-line from right fielder Victoria Medina (Whittier HS/Rio Hondo College). Gerdts (6-2) limited the Warriors (24-6, 15-2) to just two hits the remainder of the game and struck out three on the day.

Cerritos (13-15, 8-9) had runners in scoring position in the first inning when freshman outfielder Haley Davis (Mayfair HS) was hit by a pitch with one out, stole second base and was stranded. Freshman outfielder Itzel Soto (Long Beach Millikan HS) singled with one out and advanced to third base on a two-out base hit from sophomore second baseman Deja Sendejas (El Rancho HS). However, freshman catcher Erica Martinez (Kennedy HS) struck out to end the threat.

More scoring chances were missed by the Falcons, with sophomore shortstop Tena Spoolstra (Mayfair HS) leading off the third inning with a walk and then stole second base. Sophomore first baseman Keira Bolinas (Torrance HS) was then hit by a pitch with one out, but once again, Cerritos could not cash in on the scoring opportunity. The Falcons also left a runner in scoring position in the fourth inning, while they also had runners on base in the sixth and seventh innings, but were left off the scoreboard.

Gerdts was outstanding in the circle, as she retired 17 of the next 19 batters she faced after allowing the triple in the first inning. She didn't allow a walk on the day.