After needing eight innings to defeat College of the Canyons 5-1 in their first game of a double header on Saturday, the Cerritos College softball team posted an 11-7 win in the second game. The Falcons (21-6) will resume South Coast Conference play on Tuesday at 3:00 p.m. when they host Compton College.

Game 1 - Riding a 1-0 lead since the third inning, the Falcons saw the Canyons tie the game in the bottom of the seventh inning. In the eighth inning, sophomore shortstop Ayiana Cardenas (Walnut HS) led off with a single and was advanced to second base on a sacrifice bunt by sophomore outfielder Morgan Fontela (Long Beach Millikan HS). With two outs, sophomore designated player Briana Zarate (Legacy HS/Compton College) drove in what would be the game-winning run with a double. Freshman pinch-hitter Sienna Contreras (John Glenn HS) then stepped up an slapped an RBI single that plated freshman pinch-runner Brianna Bailon (Schurr HS). Freshman first baseman Valerie Vasquez (California HS) followed with a two-run home run to put the team in front, 5-1.

Freshman pitcher Tatyana Cortez (La Serna HS), who limited College of the Canyons to just three hits in the game, retired the side in order to close out the win. She also struck out eight batters in the game.

Game 2 - The Cougars got on the board three times in the bottom of the first inning of the second game, as they touched up Cortez for three hits. The Falcons responded in the top of the third inning for four runs, which included consecutive bases loaded walks to freshman third baseman Marley Cortez (Gahr HS) and Cardenas. Fontela provided the big blow with a two-run single.

Trailing 5-4 after five innings, the Falcons scored twice, which included freshman outfielder Savannah Gonzalez (Whittier HS) stealing three bases, including home for the first run of the inning. Marley Cortez also added an RBI double.

Cerritos put the game out of reach with a five-run seventh inning to break a 6-6 game. After Contreras walked and Vasquez singled, Gonzalez doubled them both in, with freshman second baseman Amarie Encarnacion (Norwalk HS) following with an RBI single. An error brought home another run, with sophomore catcher Vicky Najera (El Rancho HS) plating the final run with a single.

Tatyana Cortez, who allowed the first four runs through two innings, saw freshman Mia Star Miramontes (Sierra Vista HS) come on and pitch the next 3 1/3 innings. After allowing a one-out triple in the sixth inning, Tatyana Cortez returned to the circle and earned the win. She finished the game with four strikeouts.