With a 5-3 lead heading into the bottom of the ninth inning, the Cerritos College baseball team needed to just record three outs in order to stay undefeated. However, host Golden West College was able to push across three runs, the game-winner coming on an error, to hand the Falcons a 6-5 defeat. The team will look to recover from the loss when they host Santa Ana College at noon on Saturday. Cerritos (3-1) defeated Santa Ana, 1-0 on Tuesday.
With sophomore relief pitcher Jakob Gonzalez (La Mirada HS/San Jose State University) on the mound, the Falcons were able to hold off the Rustlers for several innings. Prior to coming out of the game in the ninth inning, Gonzalez had allowed one run, while striking out seven batters in three innings of work.
After surrendering a leadoff single, Gonzalez was replaced by sophomore Edgar Velasquez (Montebello HS), who gave up a single to pinch-hitter Nick Dayton before recording the first out. A run-scoring single by Nelson Padilla was followed by a fielder's choice and walk, which loaded the bases with two outs. Stephen Fedele tied the game with a single, while Michael Santorelli grounded a ball to sophomore third baseman Jorge Rodriguez (Bellflower HS), whose error allowed the game-winning run to score.
The Falcons took a 5-2 lead with four runs in the top of the fourth inning. Sophomore outfielder Rollie Nichols (Serra HS) singled with one out and stole second base. He advanced to third base when freshman first baseman Michael Gonzalez (St. Bernard HS) reached on an error. Freshman designated hittier Roberto Salazar (Fullerton HS) tied the game with an RBI single, with sophomore outfielder Nick Penzetta (Kamehameha, HI HS) following with a run-scoring double. The final two runs came on a two-run single by freshman outfielder Gabriel Gonzalez (Santa Fe HS).
Sophomore starting pitcher Vincent Fuentes (El Rancho HS) tossed the first five innings and allowed two runs on seven hits while striking out two.