In their South Coast Conference opener, the Cerritos College baseball team struggled for offense, and dropped a 2-0 decision to host El Camino on Tuesday. The Falcons (7-7, 0-1) will host the same Warriors (9-5, 1-0) team at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday in the second of their three-game series.

El Camino pushed across single runs in the second and third innings against freshman pitcher Kyle Carpenter (Mayfair HS), which turned out to be all the offense necessary. In fact, on offense, the Falcons didn't collect their first of only four hits in the game until freshman shortstop Daniel Lopez (Montebello HS) led off with a base hit to start the sixth inning.

Cerritos had runners in scoring position several times, but could not cash in on them. In the top of the third inning, Lopez was hit by a pitch and stole second base with one out. After freshman outfielder Justin Walsh (Katella HS) drew a walk, sophomore outfielder Johnny Martinez (Katella HS) lined into a double play to end the threat.

Later in the eighth inning, Lopez reached base on an error with two outs and advanced to second base on the throw and then to third base on a wild pitch by winning pitcher Chris Alcala. Freshman pinch-hitter Frank Vargas (El Rancho HS) was hit by a pitch to keep the inning alive, but Martinez hit into a fielder's choice and the inning came to an end. The Falcons then loaded the bases in the ninth inning on singles by Jared Robinson (Bishop Amat HS) and Hayden Stevens (Katella HS) before Jose Ayala (Maywood Academy HS) drew a walk with two outs. Josh Norwood came in to pitch and got sophomore pinch-hitter Joseph Aguirre (Kennedy HS) to hit into a fielder's choice to end the game.

Carpenter (2-2) lasted seven innings and surrendered two runs on eight hits, while sophomore Jacob Northcutt (Summerville HS) came in to pitch one inning.