A five-run second inning and an explosive eight-run fifth propelled Cerritos College to a 13-2 victory over Bakersfield College on Saturday afternoon at Nancy Kelly Field.
The Falcons collected 10 hits and drew five walks in the five-inning win, highlighted by a grand slam from Tatyana Cortez in the bottom of the fifth inning.
Bakersfield struck first in the top of the first inning, taking advantage of a fielding error to score an unearned run. Cerritos answered immediately in the bottom half when Sienna Contreras delivered an RBI single to left center to tie the game at 1-1.
The Falcons took control in the second inning. Carissa Amaya doubled to left field to drive in Bella Salas for a 2-1 lead. Alyssa Avila later reached on a fielding error that allowed Amaya to score, and Marley Cortez followed with an RBI single up the middle to extend the advantage to 4-1.
After adding another run in the fourth on Marley Cortez's RBI single down the right field line, Cerritos broke the game open in the fifth.
Amaya started the rally with an RBI single, and pinch-hitter Jaelynn Barragan followed with a run-scoring single to right field. Avila drew a bases-loaded walk to force in another run, and Marley Cortez was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to make it 9-2. Moments later, Tatyana Cortez launched a grand slam to center field, clearing the bases and ending the game with a 13-2 margin.
Marley Cortez paced the offense, going 3-for-3 with three RBI and two runs scored. Amaya finished 2-for-3 with a double and two RBI, while Tatyana Cortez drove in four runs with her home run. Avila scored twice and added an RBI, and Barragan contributed a pinch-hit RBI single.
In the circle, Mia Star Miramontes earned the win to improve to 2-1 on the season, allowing one unearned run on two hits over three innings while striking out two. Tatyana Cortez tossed the final two innings, giving up one run and striking out two.
Cerritos will look to carry the momentum from the run-rule victory into its next scheduled contest against SCC foe, Long Beach City College.
