Freshman third baseman Marley Cortez (Gahr HS) went 4-for-4 with six RBI to help lead the Cerritos College softball team to an 11-0, 6-inning win over Pasadena City College on Tuesday. The victory kept the state's #1-ranked Falcons (8-0, 2-0) undefeated in a game that was scheduled to be played in Pasadena, but was moved to Nancy Kelly Field. The playing facility that the Lancers use is no longer playable, so the game was moved to Cerritos with Pasadena City serving as the home team.

Scoreless heading into the top of the third inning, Cerritos scored three times after a leadoff error got the inning started. With a runner at second base, Cortez laced a double to the right field wall, which drove in freshman Amarie Encarnacion (Norwalk HS), who led off the inning. After sophomore catcher Vicky Najera (El Rancho HS) singled and sophomore designated player Briana Zarate (Legacy HS/Compton College) walked to load the bases, sophomore second baseman Ayiana Cardenas (Walnut HS) singled through the right side, which drove in the other two runners.

Cortez drove in the next four runs for the Falcons, with two coming on a bases loaded single in the fourth inning and another bases loaded single in the fifth inning. Her fourth hit was an RBI single in the sixth inning, as Cerritos scored four more times.

Freshman pitcher Tatyana Cortez (La Serna HS) improved to 5-0 on the year by tossing the first five innings and allowed just two hits while striking out a season-high 11 batters. She struck out the side in the second inning and struck out four batters in a row over the fourth and fifth innings. Freshman Mia Star Miramontes (Sierra Vista HS) pitched the sixth inning.

Encarnacion drew a pair of walks and scored four times, while Cardenas drove in a pair of runs. Najera and freshman outfielder Sienna Contreras (John Glenn HS) both posted a pair of hits.

Cerritos will host Cypress College at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday.

Photos by Daryl Peterson