Softball: Falcons improve to 6-0 after win

File Photo: Briana Zarate hit a pair of home runs against Moorpark College
File Photo: Briana Zarate hit a pair of home runs against Moorpark College

After spotting host Moorpark College a 4-0 lead after the first inning, the Cerritos College softball team turned on the offense and came away with a 10-5 win on Monday. The win improved the Falcons record to 6-0, which is their best start since 2009, when they opened the season 7-0. The team will now host Orange Coast College (10:00 a.m.) and Los Angeles Mission College (2:00 p.m.) at Nancy Kelly Field on Saturday.

Cerritos started chipping away at the Raiders lead in the top of the second inning when freshman first baseman Valerie Vasquez (California HS) led off with a single and then came home on the two-run home run by sophomore designated player Briana Zarate (Legacy HS/Compton College), who would go on to hit another two-run round-tripper later in the game. In the third inning, a pair of Moorpark errors allowed the Falcons to score one more run, while it was a four-run fourth inning that put the team in front.

With two outs, freshman outfielder Amarie Encarnacion (Norwalk HS) drew a walk, followed by a base hit from freshman third baseman Marley Cortez (Gahr HS). Sophomore catcher Vicky Najera (El Rancho HS) then loaded the bases when she reached on a error, with sophomore outfielder Morgan Fontela (Long Beach Millikan HS) tying the game with a single. With the bases remaining loaded, Vasquez clearing them with a double and a 7-4 Falcons lead.

Zarate added to the team's lead in the sixth inning with her second two-run home run of the game. She finished the game going 3-for-4 with four RBI and two runs scored, while Vasquez also drove in four runs and went 2-for-3 at the plate with a walk.

Freshman pitcher Tatyana Cortez (La Serna HS) tossed a complete game to earn the win and allowed four runs on five hits and struck out six batters.