The Falcons showed their power once again Tuesday, March 25 as Haley Petruccelli hit the team’s sixth grand slam of the season, contributing to the 15-4 victory over Los Angeles Harbor College.
This win ended the Falcons’ three-game losing streak during spring break and brought their record to 15-9 overall.
First baseman Crystal Cano said, “We had a bit of a tough spring break losing three close games, but we went out there today and got back into it. Everyone contributed and we didn’t let that bring us down.”
Things did not start off well for Cerritos though, as pitcher Ana Pedroza gave up a home run to shortstop Alexis Ponce after getting the first out of the game.
The Falcons immediately fired back with four runs before LA Harbor could get an out.
Second baseman Monique Ramirez singled to center, scoring third baseman Jenny Collazo. Cano later doubled to center, allowing center fielder Joanna Perruccio, Ramirez and catcher Jesseca Martinez to safely cross the plate, bringing the first inning to a score of 8-1.
Pedroza was back on the mound to start the second inning and quickly got a strikeout and a groundout. With two runners on due to a hit-by-pitch and single, Ponce once again sent the ball over the center field wall, inching the Seahawks to an 8-4 margin.
Pedroza also started the third inning and got two outs before first baseman Sarina Edwards doubled and third baseman Ashley Flanigan was hit on her left leg. Jennifer Navarro was then brought in to replace Pedroza and struck out right fielder Brianna White for the third out.
Cerritos gained one more run in the third inning when Ramirez scored on Navarro’s single to center, increasing the score to 9-4.
The Seahawks failed to advance center fielder Preasha Oliver in the fourth inning after she got a one-out walk.
Collazo led off the bottom of the inning with a walk of her own and advanced to second on catcher Krystal Purkey’s single to left field. A wild pitch allowed both runners to take the next base and Collazo then scored on designated player Stefani Gonzalez’s single.
With one out and the bases loaded, Cano hit an RBI single, bringing in Purkey.
Navarro then struck out, leaving the bases loaded with two outs for right fielder Haley Petruccelli.
With a quick swing, she sent the ball over the left field wall for the Falcons’ sixth grand slam of the season.
Seahawks second baseman Everly Dominguez-Loera hit a double in the fifth inning, but was tagged out after trying to stretch it into a triple. Edwards then popped up to shortstop, marking the final out of the game in five innings due to mercy rule.
Head coach Kodee Murray said, “LA Harbor gave a good fight, but it was nice to get back into things and get the win after this break.”
Assistant coach Jenel Guadagno said, “The [women] did well. They didn’t give up and we mixed up the lineup and continued to play hard.”
