Posted: Mar 14, 2024
Locked in a tight battle with host Mt. San Antonio College on Thursday, the Cerritos College baseball team scored three times in the top of the seventh inning on just one hit, as they went on to record an 8-3 South Coast Conference win. The victory was the 10th in a row for the Falcons (19-4, 10-1), who look for the series sweep against the Mounties at noon on Saturday at Kincaid Field.
Heading into the seventh inning, Cerritos trailed, 3-2, but benefitted from four walks, a hit batter and a balk to account for their run support. With one out, sophomore third baseman Anthony Bassett (Colegio Bautista de Managua, Nicaragua/Los Angeles Harbor College) drew a walk and advanced to second base on a two-out single from sophomore outfielder Nico Briones (Long Beach Millikan HS). Freshman pinch-hitter Dylan Immel (El Segundo HS) drew a walk to load the bases before sophomore shortstop DJ Massey (Gahr HS/Central Arizona College) tied the game when he was hit by a Jaden Mackowiak pitch.
With the bases still loaded, freshman catcher Alonso Reyes (Culver City HS) walked to force in the go-ahead run, while a balk call against Mackowiak gave Cerritos a 5-3 lead.
Sophomore starting pitcher Franky Lopez (Dominguez HS) surrendered three runs over the course of the fourth and fifth innings, but settled down as the game continued. He got a pair of ground outs to end the fourth inning, while another ground out ended the Mounties rally in the fifth inning. He set down 12 of the next 14 batters, struck out eight in the day and improved his record on the year to 5-0.
The Falcons added to their lead in the top of the ninth inning when Briones, sophomore outfielder Marlon Oviedo (Colegio Parroquial San Rafael N#1, Nicaragua/Los Angeles Harbor College) and Massey all walked to start the stanza. Then, with two outs, sophomore first baseman Mike Santos (Servite HS) laced a two-run single for a pair of insurance runs. A walk to freshman outfielder Isaiah Rios (St. John Bosco HS) loaded the bases, where Bassett drove in the third run of the inning with a walk.
On the day, the Falcons received a school-record 16 walks from six Mt. SAC pitchers.
Briones finished the day going 3-for-5 with three runs scored and a pair of doubles, while Massey and Santos each drove in a pair of runs. The top six batters in the lineup drew at least two walks each.
Briones finished the day going 3-for-5 with three runs scored and a pair of doubles, while Massey and Santos each drove in a pair of runs. The top six batters in the lineup drew at least two walks each.
