Single runs in the first three innings proved to be enough for the Cerritos College baseball team, who defeated rival Long Beach City College on Tuesday. The South Coast Conference win by the Falcons improved their overall record to 9-8, while they are now 2-2 in conference play. The two teams will meet up at Kincaid Field at 2:30 p.m. on Thursday in the second of their three-game set.

The early 3-1 lead held up the final six innings of the game, as the Vikings (5-10, 2-2) threatened in each of the last three innings. But the Cerritos bullpen was up to the challenge, and saw LBCC strand five runners in the latter third of the game. 

Freshman starting pitcher Kyle Carpenter (Mayfair HS) pitched 6 1/3 innings to earn the win, but was pulled in the seventh inning after allowing a leadoff double to Daniel Pitts and walked Yamel Delgado. Sophomore Jonathan Grana (Downey HS) came in and got Justin Davis to fly out before striking out pinch-hitter Devan Shermerhorn.

In the eighth inning, Grana recorded the first out, but then surrendered a hit and hit the next batter. On came freshman Joe Fernandez (La Habra HS), who struck out Nolan Flashman and retired Pitts to end the threat. Sophomore Jared Robinson (Bishop Amat HS), who had already clubbed three hits as the right fielder, came in to pitch the ninth inning. In between posting strikeouts to record all three outs, Robinson gave up a single to Stefan Miladinovich with one out and then advanced him to second base on a wild pitch. It was the second save of the season for Robinson.

Offensively, the Falcons accounted for the single runs in the first three innings. Sophomore outfielder Johnny Martinez (Katella HS) led off the game with a walk and was advanced to second base on a sacrifice by Carpenter. Robinson then stepped up and singled to center field off losing pitcher Cameron Mackenzie. It was freshman shortstop Daniel Lopez (Montebello HS) who led off the second inning by getting hit by a pitch and then moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. After freshman second baseman Justin Walsh (Katella HS) moved Lopez to third, he came home on an infield out by Martinez.

Sophomore third baseman Hayden Stevens (Katella HS) drove in the third run with a sacrifice fly that plated Carpenter, who led off the third inning with a single. He wound up at third base on a single by Robinson and throwing error, which set up the sacrifice fly.