A four-run first inning by the Cerritos College softball team helped propel them to a 9-1, 6-inning non-conference win at Santa Ana College on Thursday. The Falcons (3-0) turn right around and will host Cuesta College at 1:00 p.m. on Friday in their home opener. The Cougars are coached by former Cerritos All-State Tournament selection Jenel Guadagno, who helped lead the team to the state championship in 2008.

In the win over the Dons (2-1), freshman third baseman Marley Cortez (Gahr HS) led off with a walk and the team had runners at first and second base with two outs after sophomore outfielder Morgan Fontela (Long Beach Millikan HS) was hit by a pitch. That set the table for sophomore designated player Briana Zarate (Legacy HS/Compton College), who drove them both in with a single. Freshman shortstop Savannah Gonzalez (Whittier HS) then singled and sophomore second baseman Ayiana Cardenas (Walnut HS) drew a walk to load the bases. Freshman catcher Alexis Rosales (Pioneer HS) saw the other two runs come home on an error off a ball hit to second base.

Freshman pitcher Tatyana Cortez (La Serna HS) got the start and allowed one run on four hits over three innings before freshman Mia Star Miramontes (Sierra Vista HS) tossed the final three innings to earn the win. She allowed just one hit in her time in the circle.

Leading, 4-1, Cerritos added a single run in the third inning and then two in each of the fifth and sixth innings, which enacted the eight-run mercy rule. Sophomore outfielder Vicky Najera (El Rancho HS) and sophomore first baseman Isabelle Casanova (Lakewood HS) both drove in runs in the fifth inning, with Cardenas and Najera closing out the scoring in the eighth inning with RBI singles.

Najera finished the day 3-for-5 with two RBI, whikle Zarate drove in a pair with two hits.