Softball: Cerritos drops conference game to Long Beach City

File Photo: Morgan Fontela drove in all three runs against Long Beach City
File Photo: Morgan Fontela drove in all three runs against Long Beach City

Trailing, 3-0 heading into the top of the third inning, the Cerritos College softball team scored three times to draw even with host Long Beach City College. However, the Vikings went on to score the final three runs of the game and posted a 6-3 South Coast Conference decision over the Falcons (14-5, 7-3). The team was scheduled to be back in action on Saturday, but their game against Antelope Valley has been postponed.

In the third inning, freshman second baseman Amarie Encarnacion (Norwalk HS) and freshman third baseman Marley Cortez (Gahr HS) each drew walks, while a single from sophomore catcher Vicky Najera (El Rancho HS) loaded the bases with one out. Sophomore outfielder Morgan Fontela (Long Beach Millikan HS) stepped up and cleared the bases with a double, which tied the game at 3-3. Fontela was then stranded at second base when the third out was recorded.

The Vikings took a 4-3 lead with a run in the bottom of the fourth inning off freshman pitcher Tatyana Cortez (La Serna HS), and then surrendered single runs in the fifth and sixth innings.

Cerritos had multiple chances to add to their run total, but could not come up with the clutch hit. In the top of the fifth inning, Marley Cortez singled and after Fontela was hit by a pitch, the Falcons had a runner in scoring position. Freshman first baseman Valerie Vasquez (California HS) loaded the bases with a two-out infield single, but sophomore shortstop Ayiana Cardenas (Walnut HS) struck out to end the inning.

In the seventh inning, Najera led off with a double and moved to second base on a two-out infield single from Vasquez. But they would both be stranded when the final out was recorded.

Marley Cortez, Najera and Vasquez each had a pair of hits for Cerritos.