Softball: Rio Hondo opens conference schedule with win over Cerritos

Sophomore Madeline Peralta tossed a two-hit shutout while sophomore Kelly Monroe smashed a three-run home run to lead the Rio Hondo College softball team to an impressive 6-0 win over visiting Cerritos College on Thursday in both teams' South Coast Conference opener.

The victory comes off the heels of a 21-3 rout of Santa Monica College on Tuesday. Rio Hondo improved to 3-2 overall and has outscored its opponents 40-6 in its three wins so far this season.

Despite only allowing two hits, Peralta had to pitch her way out of a bases-loaded jam in the top of the second inning. A Cerritos hit batter, error, and walk loaded the bases for the Falcons with one out. But Peralta got consecutive pop outs to the infield to end the threat.

The game was scoreless for three innings until Rio Hondo finally got on the board in the fourth. Back-to-back singles by Kaylie Cervantes and Monroy, followed by a walk to Peralta loaded the bases for the Roadrunners. Katherine Arroyo followed that with an RBI single to bring home Cervantes. Two batters later, Layla Prieto's fielder's choice grounder drove in Monroy to give the Roadrunners a 2-0 lead.

The Roadrunners followed that up with a big fifth inning. Ashley Bravo and Cervantes singled before Monroy sealed the Rio Hondo victory with her three-run shot.

Rio Hondo will take a break from South Coast Conference action to host Southwestern College in a non-conference doubleheader in Whittier on Friday (Jan. 31) starting at noon.