On Saturday, the Cerritos College softball team split a pair of non-conference games at Nancy Kelly Field. The Falcons opened the day with a tough 1-0 loss to Santa Ana College and followed that with a 5-4 win over Los Angeles Mission College. The team will travel to El Camino College on Tuesday in a South Coast Conference game.

Against the Dons (22-3), a throwing error on a pickoff attempt at third base brought in what would be the only run of the game in the top of the first inning. Freshman pitcher Samantha Islas (Roosevelt HS) struggled in the first inning as she loaded the bases, but got out of trouble when she struck out Iyari Ramirez for the third out of the inning. She scattered seven hits in the game and struck out eight batters, but was a hard-luck loser in the game.

Offensively, Cerritos (20-7) had their hands full with Santa Ana pitcher Emily Rosas, who issued a walk to freshman catcher Vicky Najera (El Rancho HS) and a single to freshman third baseman Brooklyn Bedolla (Mayfair HS) in the first inning, but not much after that. The Falcons received a two-out double from freshman shortstop in the second inning, while the team drew two more walks. But that would be all, as they could not push a run across the plate.

In the second game against the Eagles (15-11), the teams traded the lead several times until the Falcons scored in the bottom of the seventh inning to win the game.

Leading 4-3 heading into the top of the seventh inning, LA Mission was able to tie the game. In the bottom of the seventh inning, Najera led off with a double off the left field wall. She moved to third on a ground out by Bedolla, while a walk to freshman designated player Maddy Guillen (La Puente HS) and an error loaded the bases with one out. Freshman pinch-hitter Makayla Torres (Sonora HS) stepped up and laced the first pitch she saw up the middle to drive home the winning run.

Freshman Courtney Callison (Santa Fe HS) started the game in the circle and went 3 2/3 innings while allowing three runs on four hits before making way for Islas. In the final 3 1/3 innings. Islas allowed one run and struck out five batters to earn the win.

Photos by Daryl Peterson