Last year, the Cerritos College softball team saw their magical season come to an end in the state championship game, as Mt. San Antonio College defeated them, 4-0. In their first meeting since that game, the Falcons received two solo home runs and a complete game pitching performance from sophomore Jessica Navarro (South Gate HS), as Cerritos recorded a 4-1 South Coast Conference win at home on Tuesday. With the win, Cerritos is now in a tie for first place in the SCC with the Mounties and Long Beach City College at 4-1, while the Falcons are 17-1 on the season. The loss dropped Mt. SAC to 10-11 overall after they had to forfeit nine wins earlier in the season. Cerritos will now host Pasadena City College at 3:00 p.m. on Thursday.

    Mt. San Antonio got on the board in the top of the first inning against Navarro, as Shelair Rowell singled home Kadie Baldwin, who singled and moved to second base on a sacrifice. But they wouldn’t get another run across the plate against Navarro (8-1), who tied the game in the bottom of the first inning with a two-out solo home run. It was a 2-1 Falcon lead in the second inning after sophomore second baseman Vanezza Martin Del Campo (St. Joseph HS) led off with a base hit and was advanced to second base on a sacrifice by sophomore catcher Nadine Garcia (Mayfair HS). After a base hit by freshman outfielder Jennifer Salas (California HS) and a walk to freshman designated hitter Audrey Leyva (Bishop Amat HS) loaded the bases, sophomore third baseman Katie Colln (Mayfair HS) hit a ground ball to third base. Mountie third baseman Liz Javier booted the ball, allowing a run to score.

    Navarro increased the Falcon lead to 3-1 with her second home run of the game and fifth on the season, as she drilled a 1-2 pitch over the right-center field fence. Cerritos closed out the scoring in the bottom of the sixth inning, as Garcia singled, took second base on a wild pitch and eventually came home on a sacrifice fly by Leyva.

    While in the circle, Navarro limited the Mounties to six hits and struck out five, while not allowing any walks. She worked out of a jam in the fifth inning, as she retired the final two batters with runners at first and third base.