Holding a slim 2-0 lead after the first three innings, the Cerritos College softball team scored 10 runs in the fourth inning and went on to post a 12-0, 5-inning South Coast Conference win over Rio Hondo College at Nancy Kelly Field on Thursday. The Falcons (19-6, 12-3) travel to College of the Canyons on Saturday for a pair of games, with the first starting at noon.

The 10-run fourth inning started with freshman outfielder Carissa Amaya (El Rancho HS) drawing a walk. The first of two errors in the inning came on a ball hit to center by freshman first baseman Valerie Vasquez (California HS), which put runners at second and third base. A walk to sophomore shortstop Ayiana Cardenas (Walnut HS) loaded the bases for freshman outfielder Savannah Gonzalez (Whittier HS), who saw her fly ball mishandled, which allowed a pair of runs to score. Freshman third baseman Marley Cortez (Gahr HS) followed with an RBI single, with freshman second baseman Amarie Encarnacion (Norwalk HS) driving in a run with a sacrifice fly.

Singles by sophomore outfielder Morgan Fontela (Long Beach Millikan HS) and sophomore catcher Vicky Najera (El Rancho HS) loaded the bases once again. All hands were safe, with a run scoring, on a fielder's choice by sophomore designated player Briana Zarate (Legacy HS/Compton College), while run-scoring walks by freshman pinch-hitter Makayla Garcia (Downey HS) and Cardenas were sandwiched between an RBI single from Vasquez. Freshman pinch-hitter Sienna Contreras (John Glenn HS) added an RBI single, while Cortez capped off the scoring with a run-producing single.

Freshman pitcher Mia Star Miramontes (Sierra Vista HS) tossed the first four innings to earn the win (7-0), as she allowed just two hits. Freshman pitcher Tatyana Cortez (La Serna HS) tossed the fifth inning and struck out all three batters.

Marley Cortez went 3-for-4 at the plate with two RBI and two runs scored, while Fontela, Najera and Vasquez all added a pair of hits.

Photos by Daryl Peterson