Heading into the final three-game series of the season, the Cerritos College baseball team is locked in a tie for first place in the South Coast Conference. The Falcons (22-11, 14-4) finished off a three-game sweep of El Camino College on Saturday with a 4-3 win in 10 innings. The team has won eight of their last nine games and finish off their regular season against Los Angeles Harbor College with the first game set for 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday at Kincaid Field.

Prior to the start of the series, Cerritos trailed the Warriors (23-10, 12-6) by one game and now hold a two-game lead over El Camino, who close out their regular season with three games against the Vikings. Should the Falcons finish in a first place tie, they hold the tie-breaker over both El Camino and LB City due to their series wins.

With the game tied at 2-2 heading into the ninth inning, Cerritos was able to push across a run on a Kevin Sainz (Valley Christian HS) single up the middle that drove in freshman second baseman Derrick Edwards (Mary Star of the Sea HS). However, an error by freshman third baseman Jonathan Avila (Carson HS) to lead off the bottom of the ninth inning came back to hurt them, as the run came around to score, which sent the game into extra innings. Edwards gave the Falcons a 2-1 lead in the fourth inning with a two-run single.

In the top of the 10th inning, sophomore first baseman Mike Heenan (JSerra HS) drew a one out walk. He advanced to third on an opposite field double by sophomore outfielder Mark Pena (Bell Gardens HS). The eventual winning run came home on a sacrifice fly by sophomore catcher Gary James (Sunny Hills HS).

Sophomore closer Jerald Johnston (California HS), who was victimized by the error in the ninth inning, allowed a lead off single in the 10th inning and then walked pinch-hitter Sebastian Sanchez. Johnston thought he had the game won when he struck out Connor Underwood, but the third strike got away from James, which loaded the bases. Johnston (4-2) then got Jacob Carr to ground back to him for the third out and the series sweep.

Sophomore starting pitcher Jonathan Marriott (La Quinta HS) pitched 6 1/3 innings and allowed two runs on six hits and struck out three batters. Sophomore Travis Bonner (Cabrillo HS) came on in relief and strick out three more in 1 2/3 innings of work.