With plate presence, coupled with solid pitching and timely hitting, the Cerritos College softball team opened the season with a 9-1, 5-inning win over host Los Angeles Valley College on Friday. The Falcons drew 12 walks on the day, with seven of them coming around to score in the abbreviated game against the Monarchs. The team will travel to Ventura College next Tuesday for a 2:00 p.m. non-conference game.

In the top of the first inning, sophomore outfielder Kayla Aros (Torrance HS) drew a leadoff walk and then scored on a home run from sophomore outfielder Haley Davis (Mayfair HS). Sophomore first baseman Sophia Collazo (Paramount HS) walked with one out, moved to second on an infield error and then scored when freshman third baseman Kara Spoolstra (Mayfair HS) laced a double. Davis then brought her home with a double of her own, which opened up a 4-0 lead.

Sophomore pitcher Skyler Swearingen (Mayfair HS) scattered four singles on the day, but did allowed a solo run to score after a single and passed ball was followed by a run-scoring hit. She finished the day with four strikeouts.

The offense wasn't done, as the third inning saw consecutive walks to freshman shortstop Ariana Gambala (High Tech Media Arts HS), freshman second baseman Aliya Velazquez (Northview HS) and Collazo resulted in a two-run double from sophomore designated player Erica Martinez (Kennedy HS). Spoolstra followed with an RBI single. Walks to both pinch-hitter Chasity Martinez (South El Monte HS) and Spoolstra ended up providing the final two runs, as singles from Davis and sophomore outfielder Itzel Soto (Long Beach Millikan HS) brought them home.

Davis finished the day going 3-for-4 with four RBI, while Aros drew three walks. Eight of the 10 players that went to the plate collected at lead one walk, with Erica Martinez driving in a pair, with Collazo and Spoolstra each scoring twice.