Led by five players with multiple hits, the Cerritos College baseball team posted a 14-3 South Coast Conference win over Pasadena City College at Kincaid Field on Thursday afternoon. The Falcons (8-6, 2-0) scored in seven of the eight innings they batted and finished with a season-high 19 hits in the win over the Lancers (3-11, 0-2). The two teams will conclude their three-game series at noon on Satirday at Jackie Robinson Field.

They opened the scoring with a pair of runs in the bottom of the first inning, as freshman first baseman Gavin Callender (La Serna HS) drove in both with a two-out base hit. It was the third straight hit in the inning for the Falcons, who kept the bats going in the second inning. A lead-off single by freshman shortstop Benny Arce (Santa Monica HS) was followed by a double from freshman outfielder Mark Pena (Bell Gardens HS). Sophomore designated hitter Kyle Carpenter (Mayfair HS) drove in Arce with a sacrifice fly and sophomore third baseman Victor Guadalupe (La Quinta HS) chased starting pitcher Isaac Holguin with an RBI single.

Although he struggled with his control, freshman starting pitcher Valentin Flores-Gomez (Gahr HS) went 5 1/3 innings to earn his second win of the season. He allowed three runs (one earned) on four hits, but surrendered five walks to go along with his five strikeouts. The tandem of Travis Bonner (Cabrillo HS) and Andrew Bueno (St. John Bosco HS) finished the game and allowed just one hit.

Seven different players drove in at least one run, with Arce leading the way with a season-high three RBI. Pena went 3-for-6 with three runs scored at the top of the lineup, with Guadalupe collecting four hits, including a solo home run in the eighth inning. Sophomore second baseman Justin Walsh (Katella HS) drew four walks and added a hit, with Carpenter and sophomore outfielder Nick Vasquez (El Rancho HS) also posting a pair of hits.

Photos by Daryl Peterson