Baseball: Comeback slips away in loss

File Photo: Andre Alvarez reached base twice in the Falcons loss
File Photo: Andre Alvarez reached base twice in the Falcons loss

Through their first 19 games, the Cerritos College baseball team went 6-2 in games decided by two runs or less. In their last three games, the Falcons (17-5, 4-3) have lost those close games, including a 5-3 South Coast Conference setback against host Mt. San Antonio College on Saturday. The team will now start a three-game series with El Camino College with the first being a 2:30 meeting on Tuesday in Torrance.

Against the Mounties (17-6, 7-1), Cerritos fought back twice to draw even, but surrendered a pair of runs in the bottom of the eighth inning for their third consecutive loss. After falling behind, 2-0 through the first inning, Cerritos scored single runs in the second and fourth innings to tie the game. With two outs and sophomore second baseman Jesus Mercado (St. John Bosco HS) on second base and freshman catcher Andre Alvarez (Walnut HS) on first base, freshman designated hitter Eric Winchester (Diamond Bar HS) reached base on an error, which brought home a run. They weren't able to garner any more runs after freshman outfielder Gabriel Jaime (Fullerton HS) lined out to end the inning.

In the fourth inning, sophomore shortstop Ramon Bramasco (Cathedral HS) led off with a double and eventually scored on a Winchester base hit. Trailing 3-2 heading into the top of the seventh inning, Jaime led off with a walk, moved to second on a fielder's choice and then third base on a passed ball. The game was tied when sophomore outfielder Rollie Nichols (Serra HS) hit into a fielder's choice. Bramasco followed with a single, but Mercado struck out to end the threat.

Sophomore Vincent Fuentes (El Rancho HS) got the start on the mound and lasted into the sixth inning before being replaced by sophomore Micah Hee (Kamehameh, HI HS). With out one in the eighth inning, Hee allowed a single and walk and was replaced by sophomore Gilbert Romero (Alhambra HS), who allowed the eventual game-winning run to score on a single by Elijah Greene. Sophomore Edgar Velasquez (Montebello HS) then came in and gave up a run-scoring sacrifice fly.