Leading visiting Mt. San Antonio College through the first six innings, the Cerritos College baseball team allowed seven runs the rest of the way and dropped a 10-8 decision on Thursday. The South Coast Conference loss evens their record to 2-2, while the Falcons are now 7-12 on the season. They will start a two-game series with Pasadena City College with the first being a 2:00 p.m. start at Jackie Robinson Field on Saturday.

The bullpen failed Cerritos, as seven relief pitchers combined to allow seven runs on six hits, while issuing six walks and hit three batters. The Falcons held a 4-3 lead after six innings, but the Mounties scored three runs in the seventh inning, as well as two in the eighth and ninth innings.

In two of those final three innings, the team was able to respond to keep the game close, but ran out of innings. After Mt. SAC scored three times in the top of the seventh inning to take their first lead of the game, the Falcons came back with a pair of runs. Freshman outfielder Dominic Bravo (Warren HS) was hit by a pitch, with freshman outfielder Micah Hee (Kamehameha, HI HS) reaching base on a fielding error. After freshman designated hitter Christopher Gomez (South Torrance HS) moved the runners over, freshman third baseman Jorge Rodriguez (Bellflower HS) drove in a run with a sacrifice fly. Freshman shortstop Ramon Bramasco (Cathedral HS) followed with a run-scoring single.

Trailing 10-6 heading into the ninth inning, the Falcons once again made a run to extend the game. Bramasco (3-for-5) led off with a double and moved to third base on a passed ball. Sophomore second baseman Derrick Edwards (Mary Star of the Sea HS) was hit by a pitch with two outs, which was followed by consecutive RBI singles from freshman catcher Adam Rubio (Montebello HS) and freshman first baseman Jesus Mercado (St. John Bosco HS), who went 3-for-4 with a walk and three RBI.

Photos by Daryl Peterson