Cortez Stellar but Warriors Shutout by Cerritos

TORRANCE, Calif. --- Sophomore Liz Cortez tossed a complete-game but it was not enough as El Camino College fell to Cerritos, 1-0, in a South Coast Conference game Thursday afternoon at the ECC Softball Field.

Cortez allowed just one run on seven hits and struck out five batters in the circle but it was not enough as Falcons' starter Samantha Islas pitched a shutout, allowing just three hits and one walk.

The Falcons got on the board in the second inning on an RBI single from Miranda Diaz that scored Brooklyn Bedolla from third base.

It's all they would get off Cortez, who stranded eight Cerritos runners on base. She got out of a bases loaded jam with one out in the fifth, striking out Bedolla and getting Maddy Guillen to fly out to keep the Warriors within one. Cortez would retire eight of the final nine batters she faced.

The Warriors had one last chance in the seventh as Skylar Sanchez laid down a perfect bunt down the third base line and beat the throw to first for a one-out single. She advanced to second on a groundout and the Genise Chavez hit a ball to the hole at short.

But Falcons shortstop Miranda Diaz backhanded the ball and, with one knee on the ground, threw a one-hopper to first where Richere Leduc caught it off the hop perfectly just in time to nip Chavez at first and end the game.

The Warriors will be back in action on Tuesday with a road game at Rio Hondo. First pitch is set for 3 p.m.