Leading 3-1 through the first four innings, it appeared as though the Cerritos College softball team would be in line to win their 11th straight game. But, a throwing error in the top of the fifth inning allowed Riverside College to score three unearned runs and post a 5-3 non-conference win on Thursday. The Falcons dropped to 24-2 on the year, while the Tigers improved to 14-13. The team will now look to rebound when they face cross-town rival Long Beach City College on Tuesday in a South Coast Conference game. The Vikings handed Cerritos their first loss of the season, a 4-0 setback on February 28.
Cerritos took their 3-1 lead with two runs in the bottom of the third inning to erase a 1-0 deficit. After sophomore shortstop Jenel Guadagno (Warren HS) drew a walk with two outs, sophomore pitcher Jessica Navarro (South Gate HS) reached base on an error by first baseman Christin Dunn. After an RBI double by sophomore first baseman Stephanie Lomeli (Montebello HS) a second error by Dunn allowed Navarro to score for a 2-1 lead. Freshman outfielder Jennifer Salas (California HS) led off with a triple in the fourth inning and scored on an error.
The trouble for the Falcons came in the fifth inning, as the Tigers had runners at first and second base with no outs against Navarro. Leesa Galvan then hit a ball back to Navarro and she threw the ball away, allowing both runs to score and sending Galvan to third base. A ground out allowed the third run to score, while Dunn homered in the seventh inning for the final run.
