On Tuesday in their South Coast Conference game against visiting Long Beach City College, the Cerritos College baseball team was unable to string hits together. The result was a 3-0 loss which dropped the Falcons (11-8, 5-2) out of a tie for first place with the Vikings (10-8, 6-1). The two teams will meet up at Joe Hicks Field at 2:30 p.m. on Thursday in the second of their three-game set.

Sophomore starting pitcher Ryan Arambula (Bell Gardens HS) was in a duel with Julian Griego for the first three innings. With two outs in the top of the fourth inning, Arambula (3-3) lost Tanner Levine with two close pitches, which resulted in a walk. Jackson Foss followed with an 0-2 double that plated Levine for a 1-0 Long Beach lead. LBCC added single runs in the seventh and eighth innings to close out the scoring.

In only the second inning were the Falcons able to collect a pair of hits off Griego (5-1), who pitched a complete game and surrendered just four hits. With one out in the second inning, sophomore first baseman Brett Thompson (Corona del Mar HS/Saddleback College) singled and was cut down at second base on a fielder's choice by sophomore outfielder Shane Preston (Deer Creek, OK HS). Freshman outfielder Jesse Perdomo (California HS) followed with a base hit, but sophomore second baseman Justin Walsh (Katella HS) struck out to end the threat.

Pinch-hitter Aaron Fawcett drove in the second Vikings run with a sacrifice fly in the seventh inning and an infield bunt single by Tai Tiedemann drove in Michael Thomas, who drew a walk off relief pitcher Andrew Bueno (St. John Bosco HS).

Photos by Daryl Peterson