The Falcons softball team used timely plays and a strong performance in the circle to secure a 2-1 victory over East Los Angeles on Wednesday.
After East Los Angeles took an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning on a passed ball, the Falcons responded in the second. With runners in scoring position, Sienna Contreras delivered a sacrifice fly to right field to bring home Luna Villa and even the score at 1-1.
Cerritos took the lead for good in the fourth inning. Amarie Encarnacion dropped down a bunt single to put pressure on the defense, and a throwing error allowed Annie Perez to score from third, giving the Falcons a 2-1 advantage.
That would be all the run support needed for pitcher Tatyana Cortez, who turned in a dominant outing in the circle. Cortez tossed a complete game, allowing just five hits and one unearned run while striking out 12 batters and walking four to improve to 14-5 on the season.
Offensively, Encarnacion led the Falcons with two hits, while Villa and Contreras each recorded one hit, with Contreras driving in the team's lone RBI. Cerritos also showed aggressiveness on the basepaths, with Encarnacion stealing two bases and Perez adding another.
