Locked in a tight 2-2 game against host Glendale College on Wednesday, the Cerritos College baseball team scored four runs in the eighth inning and went on to post a 6-5 victory. The one-run win was the fourth of the season for the Falcons (11-2), who opened the day by defeating the Vaqueros, 7-4 in 12 innings in a game that was suspended from earlier in the season. On Saturday, Cerritos will travel to Palomar College for a 1:00 p.m. game.
With the game tied, 2-2 heading into the top of the eighth inning, freshman catcher Andre Alvarez (Walnut HS) singled with one out, followed by sophomore shortstop Ramon Bramasco (Cathedral HS) drawing a walk. The hero of the completed game, sophomore Jesus Mercado (St. John Bosco HS), broke the tie with a run-scoring double. Freshman first baseman Michael Gonzalez (St. Bernard HS) drove in the second run with a sacrifice fly, while freshman designated hitter Roberto Salazar (Fullerton HS) cleared the bases with a two-run home run, his first of the season, and the Falcons led, 6-2.
In the bottom of the inning, Glendale stormed back, as they put three runs on the board. With one out, Jake Selco singled off freshman relief pitcher Brian Kossler (Mayfair HS). An error by Bramasco put runners at first and second, with Grant Mona loading the bases with a single. Pinch-hitter Andrew Alvarez doubled in the first two runs of the inning, which chased Kossler in favor of sophomore Micah Hee (Kamehameha, HI HS). After striking out Troy Viola, a wild pitch allowed the third run to score. Hee got out of the inning with a ground out and then got a great defensive play in the ninth inning to close out the game.
The Vaqueros loaded the bases with no outs until Hee struck out Sean Kretz for the first out of the inning. Facing Selco with the game on the line, Hee earned his first save of the season when Michael Gonzalez snagged a line drive an then quickly threw to second base, where he doubled up the runner to end the game.
On the day, Alvarez went 3-for-4 with two RBI and a leadoff home run in the second inning, while Salazar and Mercado added a pair of hits. Kossler, who pitched 2 1/3 innings of relief for freshman starting pitcher Eric Winchester (Diamond Bar HS), earned the win. Kossler struck out four, while Hee tossed the final 1 2/3 innings.