Cerritos College third baseman Marley Cortez capped off a Falcons four-run fifth inning with her key RBI double in a 10-2 victory over Riverside City College, marking their first win of the season.

Head coach Kodee Murray said the win was important for the team moving forward.

“We would be 0-2 if we didn’t win it, so that was a big win,” Murray said. “They come from a good conference. I just thought we were able to play well together today.”

Cerritos scored early, taking a 1-0 lead in the first inning after a walk brought in a run. Riverside briefly tied the game in the third inning but Cerritos quickly regained the lead.

Momentum shifted later in the third inning when Mia Miramonte singled to drive in a run. Carissa Amaya followed with another hit that brought in a second run, giving Cerritos a 3-1 advantage.

Riverside narrowed the gap in the fourth inning with a run scored on a deep hit to the outfield, but Cerritos responded in the fifth.

The fifth inning proved to be the turning point as Cerritos scored four runs on patient at-bats and timely hits. The crowd grew louder as the Falcons widened their lead.

Cortez delivered one of the inning’s biggest hits, helping Cerritos extend its advantage to 7-2 by the end of the fifth.

Cerritos added three more runs in the sixth inning. Tatyana Cortez sparked the rally with a hit that drove in two runs, while the Falcons’ defense held Riverside scoreless the rest of the way.

A brief moment of levity came when Riverside’s pitcher was warned by the umpire about foot placement. She exaggerated her stance before each pitch, drawing laughter from the crowd.

Cerritos’ consistent hitting and strong defense proved too much for Riverside as the Falcons closed out the game.

The Falcons will play their next game on Jan. 28 at home against Chaffey College.