Softball: Falcons rally for eight runs to post 8-3 win

Maddy Guillen had a pair of hits and drove in a run for the Falcons
Maddy Guillen had a pair of hits and drove in a run for the Falcons

With two outs in the bottom of the sixth and the Cerritos College softball team trailing, 2-0, they went on to score eight times in the inning and posted an 8-3 South Coast Conference win over Rio Hondo College on Tuesday. Both teams entered the game riding a four-game winning streak, with the Falcons improving to 13-4 overall and 5-2 in conference play after the victory. The team will now travel to Mt. San Antonio College to take on the first place Mounties at 3:00 p.m. on Thursday.

Against Roadrunners (9-4, 3-4) starting pitcher Lourdes Soria, the Falcons collected just three hits through the first five innings. After freshman designated player Maddy Guillen (La Puente HS) singled with one out, followed by a double from freshman third baseman Brooklyn Bedolla (Mayfair HS), Soria was replaced by Clarissa Evangelista. After the second out was recorded, the next four batters slapped run-scoring singles, followed by a bases loaded walk and hit by pitch, which also drove in runs.

Freshman pinch-hitter Ariana Hamilton (Downey HS) got the team on the board when she dropped a single into right field, while freshman outfielder Alyssa Capps (Downey HS) reached on an infield single, which tied the game at 2-2. Freshman second baseman Alyssa Sotelo (El Rancho HS) drove a single up the middle to bring in a run, with freshman catcher Vicky Najera (El Rancho HS) beating the throw on a roller to third base, which plated the fourth run. Freshman shortstop Miranda Diaz (California HS) drew an RBI walk, while freshman first baseman Richere Leduc (California HS) was hit by a pitch, which also brought in a run.

Guillen, who started the inning with a single, drove in the sixth run with a base hit up the middle, with Bedolla closing out the scoring with a two-run single that dropped into shallow right field.

Freshman pitcher Samantha Islas (Roosevelt HS), who struggled with her control at times, retired the side in the fifth an sixth innings to help slow down the Roadrunners. They did push a run across in the seventh inning, but the Falcons were well in front. On the day, Islas (8-1) allowed three runs (two earned) on five hits and struck out seven.

Photos by Daryl Peterson