Cerritos College saw its postseason run come to a close on Saturday at Nancy Kelly Field, as College of the Canyons rallied for a pair of wins to secure victory in the opening round of the 3C2A Softball Regionals.

Despite strong offensive performances throughout the day, the Falcons were unable to hold late leads in either contest, falling 9-7 in both games.

In the opener, Cerritos came out swinging, erupting for seven runs in the bottom of the first inning to take early control. Key hits from Tatyana Cortez, Luna Villa, Amarie Encarnacion, Marley Cortez, and Bella Salas fueled the explosive start, putting the Falcons ahead 7-0 before the Cougars recorded an out in the frame.

Marley Cortez and Salas each recorded two hits in the opener, while Tatyana Cortez drove in two runs. Encarnacion and Villa also added RBI in the loss.

Game two followed a similar script, with both teams trading momentum throughout. After falling behind early, Cerritos answered with a solo home run from Marley Cortez in the first inning, and later tied the game in the fifth on a two-run blast by Alyssa Avila.

The Falcons appeared to seize control in the sixth inning. Mia Star Miramontes delivered an RBI single to tie the game before Marley Cortez came through with a clutch three-run double, giving Cerritos a 7-4 advantage heading into the final inning.

Marley Cortez led the Falcons offensively in game two, finishing 2-for-2 with four RBI, including the go-ahead extra-base hit in the sixth. Avila added a home run and two RBI, while Miramontes also drove in a run. Cerritos totaled nine hits in the nightcap.

The Falcons showed resilience and offensive firepower throughout the series but were unable to overcome late surges by the Cougars in both contests.