Up against the wall, joint conference leaders Cerritos felt the heat from the Warriors last Thursday. EC’s softball team led by two runs in the last inning thanks to a home run from freshman infielder Marissa Padilla. Despite coming so close, the Warriors could not hold the lead losing 7-4 at home.

“It was a clutch situation,” Padilla said about the three-run home run. “We had to score because we were down so I knew that was the time.”

EC scored first when an RBI from freshman outfielder Jessica Gonzalez in the second inning got the Warriors on the scoresheet.

“We knew we had to be really aggressive at the plate and that was my main goal personally,” Gonzalez said. “It was my turn to hit and I just swung at what I thought was there.”

Cerritos got two runs back in the fourth inning but the Warriors responded with an offensive show in the fifth. With two freshmen, infielder Monique Kleinhans and designated player Samantha Lauro on base Padilla stepped up big with the home run to left field.

“We thought we could pull it out with just that swing of the bat because she’s done it before” freshman pitcher Danielle Bonsky said about Padillo. “She’s been hitting hard all week, all season.”

The Warriors were in position to complete the upset with two outs standing between them and the victory. However, that’s when Cerritos came out swinging. Errors from the Warriors defense let the Falcons in on five runs and made it a task EC could not overcome.

“I told them, ‘I know it stings to have that loss its a hard way to lose but I’m so proud of the way you guys played today,'” coach Elaine Martinez said. “We competed, we had them scared today so I’m really proud of what we did.”

Bonsky pitched the first five innings allowing two runs from five hits. Freshman infielder Reina Trejo pitched for one inning earning one strikeout and allowing five runs from six hits. Freshman designated player, Samantha Lauro pitched for the last out of the seventh inning.

EC’s record is 10-10 in the conference and 18-18 overall. The Warriors will wrap up the season on today when they host Long Beach at 3 p.m.