Just two days ago, the Cerritos College baseball team surrendered 16 runs and 14 hits in a loss to Santa Ana College. On Thursday at Kincaid Field, a trio of pitchers limited the Dons (7-1) to two runs on five hits in a 3-2 non-conference win. The Falcons (5-2) will now travel to Palomar College on Saturday for a 2:00 p.m. game.

After sophomore starting pitcher Jonathan Marriott (La Quinta HS) allowed two runs in the top of the second inning, Cerritos got one run back in the bottom of the third inning on a solo home run by freshman third baseman Jonathan Avila (Carson HS). The Falcons took the lead for good with a pair of runs in the bottom of the fourth inning.

Sophomore outfielder Fermin Beza (California HS/William Jessup University) led off the inning with a base hit and advanced to third base on a one-out double by sophomore shortstop Daniel Lopez (Montebello HS). Freshman second baseman Derrick Edwards (Mary Star of the Sea HS) tied the game at 2-2 with a sacrifice fly, while an RBI single by sophomore first baseman Mike Heenan (JSerra HS) put the team in the lead.

Marriott (1-0), who pitched 6 1/3 innings, settled down after the two-run second inning. He retired eight batters in a row before issuing a walk in the fifth inning. A fielder's choice and fly out ended the stanza. He allowed a lead-off single and walk in the sixth inning, but worked out of the jam to keep Cerritos in the lead.

A lead-off single and sacrifice bunt in the seventh inning brought in freshman relief pitcher Carlos Hernandez (Pioneer HS), who got a pair of ground out to end the inning. Sophomore closer Jerald Johnston (California HS) was called upon to get a six-out save. He struck out the first two batters in the eighth inning, but allowed a walk, hit batter and infield single to load the bases. But a fly ball out against Tommy Anderson ended the threat. He set down the side in the ninth inning, including a strikeout of Jeff Murray to end the game, and earned his second save.

Sophomore outfielder Mark Pena (Bell Gardens HS) extended his hitting streak to 18 games (dating back to last year) with a leadoff single in the first inning. He added another single in the fifth inning, with Avila also collecting a pair of hits.

Photos by Daryl Peterson