No. 6/12 Softball Take Down Cerritos 10-9 in Conference Action

Freshman center fielder Yazmin Zendejas had three runs against the Falcons.
Freshman center fielder Yazmin Zendejas had three runs against the Falcons.

The No. 6/12 Vikings defeated the Cerritos College Falcons in a 10-9 South Coast Conference victory on Tuesday afternoon. The Vikings rallied in the bottom of the fifth inning from being down six runs to win the conference game. With the win, the Vikings improve 16-13 overall, and 7-7 in conference action.

Freshman starting pitcher Joette Vega (7-3) earned the win in the circle with only allowing six earned runs in seven innings of work.

The Vikings started the game with short stop freshman Jade Wittman hitting a double to left field to bring in freshman center fielder Yazmin Zendejas for her first run of the game. Then freshman left fielder Maria Aguilar had an RBI single to bring in Zendejas to take the 2-0 lead over Cerritos.

The Falcons then hit a two RBI home run to tie the game in third inning. They came back stronger in the fourth inning with four more runs and two more in the fifth inning to lead the Vikings 8-2.  

Long Beach wasn't ready to bow down and they brought out the bats in the bottom of the fifth inning. Zendejas and freshman catcher Jocelyn Cebedo both got on base to load first and second. Then Wittman advanced everyone with a single and then third baseman Ileana Rivera ripped a triple to start the five-run rally and score in Zendejas, Cebedo and Wittman. Freshman left fielder Maria Aguilar and freshman designated player Noelany Benitez finished out the rally with two more runs to only trail the Falcons by one run.

Cerritos came back in the top of the sixth with one more run to extend their lead by two. Then the Vikings bounced back in the bottom of the sixth inning with three runs from Zendejas, freshman pinch runner Destinee Ripley, and Benitez to take back the lead 10-9.

The Falcons were shut-out in the seventh inning and the Vikings finished the game with the 10-9 conference victory.

The Long Beach City College softball team will return to action Thursday, Mar. 28 at home at 3 p.m.