Trailing 5-4 heading into the top of the ninth inning, the Cerritos College baseball team scored four times and pulled out an 8-5 South Coast Conference win over El Camino College on Tuesday. The win by the Falcons (20-11, 12-4) moves them back into a three-way tie for first place in the conference with the Warriors and Long Beach City College. Cerritos just completed a series where they won two of three over the Vikings last week and will now host El Camino at 2:30 p.m. on Thursday.

In the all-important ninth inning, sophomore outfielder Fermin Beza (California HS/William Jessup University) reached base on an error, while freshman second baseman Derrick Edwards (Mary Star of the Sea HS) drew a walk. With two outs, the Falcons were facing Warriors (23-8, 12-4) closer Nick Sablock. Freshman designated hitter Kevin Sainz (Valley Christian HS) drew a walk to load the bases, which brought up freshman pinch-hitter Eric Hefner (El Dorado HS).

Hefner hit a ball to second baseman Kyle Henmi, whose error allowed the first run to score and keep the team's chances alive. Up stepped sophomore shortstop Daniel Lopez (Montebello HS), who laced a bases clearing double and give the Falcons an 8-5 lead.

Sophomore relief pitcher Travis Bonner (Cabrillo HS) recorded the first out of the inning before surrendering a single. That brought on sophomore closer Jerald Johnston (California HS), who struck out Mason Landis before allowing an infield single to Connor Underwood. Another single by Jacob Carr loaded the bases before Johnston earned his sixth save when he struck out Henmi for the final out. Bonner, who tossed 2 1/3 innings, improved to 4-0 on the season.

Lopez, who drove in three runs, had two hits on the day, as did sophomore first baseman Mike Heenan (JSerra HS) and sophomore outfielder Mark Pena (Bell Gardens HS). Sophomore catcher Gary James (Sunny Hills HS) drove in runs with a first inning single and infield groundout in the fifth inning.