It was an emotional rollercoaster of a day for the Cerritos College softball team. Coming into the day, the #4-seeded Falcons needed just one win against #13-seeded Los Angeles Mission College to advance to the Southern California Super Regional. They had several chances to pull out a win in the first game, but dropped a 10-6 decision, which put them in a must-win game in order to advance. It also snapped the team's 10-game winning streak. Trailing the Eagles (26-17), 3-2 through the first five innings in the deciding game, Cerritos responded with two runs in each of the sixth and seventh innings to come away with a 6-4 victory.

The Falcons (29-13) will now host #5-seeded Fullerton College next weekend in a best-of-three series at Nancy Kelly Field. Game 1 of the series will be at 2:00 p.m. on Friday. Earlier in the season, Cerritos recorded a 2-0 win over the Hornets. It also marks the second season in a row the Falcons advanced to the Super Regional as a host.

Game 3 - Serving as the visitor in the third game of the series, Cerritos fell behind, 1-0 in the first inning. They were able to respond with a pair of runs in the top of the second inning on consecutive doubles from sophomore third baseman Brooklyn Bedolla (Mayfair HS) and sophomore shortstop Miranda Diaz (California HS). With runners on first and third with two outs, sophomore outfielder Alyssa Capps (Downey HS) beat out a bunt, which brought home Diaz with the second run of the inning.

Sophomore starting pitcher Samantha Islas (Roosevelt HS), who was touched up for a pair of home runs in the first two games of the series, saw the Eagles Lily Stell hit her second home run of the day, as her two-run blast put LA Mission back on top, 3-2. The Falcons, who recorded 13 of the game's first 15 outs on fly balls, opened the top of the sixth inning with the first ground ball of the game, which was booted by Stell at third base and allowed Bedolla to reach base. A single from freshman catcher Jimena Velazquez (Fullerton HS) put runners on first and third with one out. Sophomore offensive player Maddy Guillen (La Puente HS), who had gone 0-for-6 in the series, laced a double up the middle, which brought in Bedolla with the tying run. Capps then slapped her own base hit to drive in the go-ahead run.

In the seventh inning, consecutive singles from Macias, sophomore first baseman Richere Leduc (California HS) and freshman outfielder Marley Manalo (Walnut HS) loaded the bases with no outs. An infield out by Bedolla drove in a run, while a sacrifice fly from Diaz made it a 6-3 lead. In the bottom of the seventh inning, LA Mission's Lizbeth Mora hit a solo home run before Islas (18-6) was able to record the final out.

Game 2 - A pair of solo home runs by both teams accounted for the 2-2 score through the first three innings of the first game of the day. However, the Eagles were able to take advantage of some defensive miscues from the Falcons to push four runs across the plate against relief pitchers Guillen and freshman Reanna Carranza (El Rancho HS). Down, 9-2 heading into the bottom of the seventh inning, Cerritos was able to score three times and looked to add more runs. Macias, Leduc and Manalo each singled to lead off the inning, which accounted for one of the runs, while a base hit from Bedolla loaded the bases with no outs. After two outs were recorded, RBI walks were drawn by Guillen and freshman pinch-hitter Natalie Basurto (Walnut HS). But the bases remained loaded when the inning ended. Macias led off the seventh inning with a solo home run - her second of the game - but that's where the offense ended.

In the two games, Macias (5-for-8, 2 HRs, 4 runs, 2 RBI) and Bedolla (3-for-7, HR, 2 RBI, 3 runs) had good games at the plate.

Photos by Daryl Peterson