The Cerritos College baseball team was unable to match the scoring of Ventura College on Tuesday at Kincaid Field and suffered a 9-3 setback. The loss was the second in a row for the Falcons (3-3) and second time they have been defeated by the Pirates (4-3) this season. The team will play their second of three games at home this week when they host Mt. San Jacinto at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday.

Ventura jumped on freshman starting pitcher Andre Cabada (Savanna HS) in the top of the first inning by scoring three times. Cabada (0-1) didn't help his cause with a throwing error on a fielder's choice that allowed a run to score and led to the second run. After walking Tim Ginter to lead off the game, pitcher Tyler Watson doubled home the first run of the game. A base hit by Harrison Crawford was followed by the Cabada throwing error on a ball hit back to the mound by Scott Morton. Shane Distl followed with an RBI single. Crawford led the Pirates with four hits.

The Falcons were able to get to within 3-2 when freshman outfielder Kyle Carpenter (Mayfair HS) singled home a pair of runs in the bottom of the third inning off Watson (1-0). Sophomore designated hitter Jared Robinson (Bishop Amat HS) singled with one out, with sophomore catcher Chris Carrillo (St. Paul HS/San Jose State University) getting hit by a pitch. The bases were then loaded when freshman shortstop Daniel Lopez (Montebello HS) drew a walk. Then, with two outs, Carpenter slapped a base hit to center field.

But it was a pair of runs by the Pirates in the fifth, seventh and eighth innings that put the game out of reach. Cerritos didn't help their cause with three errors, with freshman second baseman Victor Guadalupe (La Quinta HS) committing one in the seventh that opened the door for a two-run triple by Crawford, while an error on a bunt with two runners on base led to two more runs.

On the day, the Falcons used six pitchers, with sophomore Jacob Northcutt (Summerville HS) going the longest (2 1/3 innings) and allowed one run. He started his appearance by retiring the first seven batters until a triple by Ginther brought on sophomore Elpidio Martin (Lynwood HS).

At the plate, Carpenter led the seven-hit day with two hits, while Carrillo reached base twice and drove in the other run with a sacrifice fly in the sixth inning.

Photos by Daryl Peterson