The softball team battled back from an early deficit but came up just short in a 5-4 loss to Fullerton College on Saturday.

Fullerton broke through with a five-run third inning that proved to be the difference. Faith Krueger delivered a two-run single through the left side to open the scoring, and Lisa Villanueva followed with an RBI single. Moments later, Toafa Pua launched a two-run home run to cap the inning and give the visitors a 5-0 advantage.

Cerritos responded in the fourth. Carissa Amaya came around to score on an error at first base off the bat of Annie Perez to put the Falcons on the board. Alyssa Avila added a sacrifice fly later in the inning, trimming the deficit to 5-2.

The Falcons continued to chip away in the sixth. With runners on, Marley Cortez delivered the biggest swing of the day for Cerritos, lining a two-run double to left-center to score Avila and Amarie Encarnacion and cut the lead to 5-4.

Cerritos threatened late, but Fullerton pitcher Emma Gamez worked out of trouble to secure the complete-game win.

Marley Cortez paced the offense with two hits and two RBI, while Avila, Luna Villa and Isabella Najera each contributed a hit. Najera also reached base three times with two walks and scored a run.

In the circle, Mia Star Miramontes started for Cerritos, with Tatyana Cortez tossing five innings of relief and striking out three.