Softball: Cerritos posts extra-inning win over Long Beach City

File Photo: Jazmine Macias drove in the game-winning run in the 9th inning against Long Beach City
File Photo: Jazmine Macias drove in the game-winning run in the 9th inning against Long Beach City

One day after suffering a heartbreaking 1-0 decision to El Camino College, the Cerritos College softball team responded with a 2-1, 9-inning win over host Long Beach City College. The South Coast Conference win over the state's #9-ranked Vikings (27-9, 16-3) gives the #15-ranked Falcons (26-10, 13-7) a better chance at hosting a first round Southern California Regional Playoff series. The team will close out their conference season on Monday at East Los Angeles, while the team will finish in fourth place.

In the top of the ninth inning, freshman outfielder Morgan Fontela (Long Beach Millikan HS) doubled with one out to put a runner in scoring position. Sophomore outfielder Jocelyn Doan (Walnut HS) sacrificed Fontela to third base, which set the table for sophomore Jazmine Macias (La Mirada HS), who laced a double down the third base line to bring home Fontela with the eventual winning run.

Sophomore pitcher Reanna Carranza (El Rancho HS) tossed another superb game and set down the Vikings in the bottom of the inning to secure her 26th win of the season. Her 26 wins are the eighth most in a season for a Falcons pitcher, while her 36 starts are tied for the sixth most and has moved into seventh place for most innings pitched in a season (229.1).

The Falcons opened the scoring in the top of the first inning when sophomore third baseman Natalie Basurto (Walnut HS) singled with one out, stole second base and scored on a two-out infield single by sophomore first baseman Nadia Landeros (Warren HS/Rio Hondo College). Long Beach City quickly tied the game with a run of their own in the bottom of the stanza. 

Cerritos was able to load the bases in the top of the sixth inning, but could not add to their run total. Singles by Basurto and sophomore shortstop Marley Manalo (Walnut HS) were followed by an error to load the bases with one out. The Vikings got out of the inning without any damage and threatened to score in the bottom of the inning. Consecutive singles to lead off the inning were followed by a double play, although another single and walk loaded the bases. Carranza got Alejandra Mota to ground out to end the inning.

The trio of Basurto, Manalo and Landeros each had two hits on the day for Cerritos.