With three big innings, the Cerritos College baseball team opened up a 10-3 lead over visiting Mt. San Jacinto College on Thursday and went on to post a 10-6 win at Kincaid Field on Thursday. The Falcons (4-3) used a five-run sixth inning to help open up their lead, and withstood a late rally by the Eagles (3-5) to post the non-conference win. The team will now host Oxnard College at 2:00 p.m. on Friday.

The recipient of the run support was freshman pitcher Kyle Carpenter (Mayfair HS), who limited Mt. San Jac to just one hit through five innings. He encountered some trouble in the sixth inning, and it was a potential inning ending double play ball that was booted by freshman second baseman Victor Guadalupe (La Quinta HS) that  opened the door for a three-run stanza. Carpenter (1-1) was pulled after allowing a two-run triple and a walk, with freshman Ryan Arambula (Bell Gardens HS) coming in to record the final out of the inning.

That made the score 5-3, but the Falcons responded by batting around in the bottom of the sixth and pushed five runs across the plate. Carpenter led off the sixth by getting hit by a pitch before freshman shortstop Daniel Lopez (Montebello HS) moved him over with a sacrifice bunt. After a pinch-hit single from freshman Kenton McDonald (Long Beach Poly HS), sophomore outfielder Johnny Martinez (Katella HS) and sophomore first baseman Jose Romero (Whittier HS) each collected RBI singles. Sophomore third baseman Hayden Stevens (Katella HS) was then hit by a pitch, followed by freshman pinch-hitter Aaron David (Katella HS) reaching base on a fielder's choice, which brought home a run. The fifth run of the inning was driven in by sophomore Jared Robinson (Bishop Amat HS).

Although the Eagles were able to have some success against the Falcon bullpen, the lead was enough for the team to secure the victory. Mt. San Jacinto left a runner in scoring position in the eighth inning and after scoring once in the ninth, had runners on first and second when sophomore Jonathan Grana (Downey HS) ended the game with a strikeout.

Eight different Cerritos players had at least one hit, with Martinez leading the way by going 3-for-3 with two runs scored and two RBI, while Romero was 2-for-4 with an RBI. Robinson also had a pair of hits and two RBI. L.A. Gamo led the Eagles with three hits and two runs scored.

Photos by Daryl Peterson