Softball: Falcons record second straight mercy win

File Photo: Amarie Encarnacion drove in four runs against LA Harbor
File Photo: Amarie Encarnacion drove in four runs against LA Harbor

The first 11 batters reached base in the first inning, which helped propel the Cerritos College softball team to a 15-2, 5-inning win over Los Angeles Harbor College on Tuesday. The Falcons (12-4, 6-2) were playing their second of five games during the week and second in as many days. On Monday, they defeated Rio Hondo College, 8-0 in five innings and will now travel to face the same Roadrunners at 3:00 p.m. on Thursday, weather permitting.

Cerritos scored all 15 of their runs in the first two innings, which started when freshman third baseman Marley Cortez (Gahr HS) led off the bottom of the first inning with a single, followed by a walk to sophomore shortstop Ayiana Cardenas (Walnut HS). Sophomore outfielder Morgan Fontela (Long Beach Millikan HS) got the scoring started with an RBI single, followed by a run-scoring single from sophomore designated player Briana Zarate (Legacy HS/Compton College). Sophomore catcher Vicky Najera (El Rancho HS) then singled home two more runs, while freshman outfielder Carissa Amaya (El Rancho HS) added an RBI base hit.

The bases became loaded after freshman first baseman Valerie Vasquez (California HS) doubled, while freshman third baseman Savannah Gonzalez (Whittier HS) drew a walk. A two-run single from freshman outfielder Amarie Encarnacion (Norwalk HS) kept the inning going, while the final of the eight runs came home on a fielder's choice from Cardenas.

Gonzalez doubled in a pair of runs in the second inning, while Encarnacion also collected a two-run single. The big hit of the inning was a three-run home run from Fontela.

Freshman pitcher Tatyana Cortez (La Serna HS), who tossed a five-inning no-hitter the day before, pitched the first two innings and recorded all six outs via strikeout. Freshman Mia Star Miramontes (Sierra Vista HS) pitched the final three innings to earn the win and allowed two runs and struck out a pair.