The Cerritos College Falcons softball team faced the East Los Angeles College Huskies in a conference matchup on March 24 as they scraped through a 2-1 win.
“I feel like some of us came in today like ‘oh easy win’, but realistically we have to jump on it as quick as possible and I felt like my performance in the circle stayed the same from start to finish,” said Cortez on reflecting on the game and her performance.
Starting pitcher Tatyana Cortez for the Falcons pitched a complete seven innings with a season high 12 strikeouts. She only allowed one run on five hits and walked four batters.
Cortez improved her season record to 14-5.
The Huskies quickly opened the scoring in the top of the first as leadoff hitter Zyanne Diaz reached base with a single to left field.
A sacrifice bunt and a ground ball advanced her to third before eventually scoring on a passed ball by Cerritos catcher Isabella Najera.
The winning run for the Falcons came in the fourth inning when Sienna Contreras, who drove in the tying run earlier in the second inning, leadoff with a hit.
Annie Perez came in to pinch run for Contreras and immediately stole second. Amarie Encarnacion bunted her way on base and forced a throwing error by the Huskies’ starting pitcher that allowed Perez to score.
“We got our [leadoff hitter] on and we were able to move her and get a key hit. We had a lot of opportunities in this game to have a different score and we didn’t come through. So, it was good that we could push one in the fourth inning,” head coach Kodee Murray said about how the team was able to take the lead at the bottom of the fourth inning.
“Next game, I’m really looking forward to us jumping ahead early on scoring and pitching should be good. Mia Star is pitching that game too and I know she’s going to do great on that,” Cortez said on what she looks forward to next game against Los Angeles Harbor on Mar. 26.
Cerritos improved their record to 19-7 overall and will play their next game on the road on March 26 against Los Angeles Harbor College.
