Scoring the eventual game-winning run in the bottom of the eighth inning, the Cerritos College baseball team posted their first win of the season, as they defeated visiting Mt. San Jacinto College, 3-2 on Friday. The Falcons (1-4) will travel to Golden West College on Saturday for a noon game, which will be the first of two in a row with the Rustlers.

After allowing an unearned run in the top of the eight inning, which tied the game, Cerritos scored the winning run without the benefit of a hit in the bottom of the stanza. Freshman outfielder Wyatt Hall (Long Beach Millikan HS) drew a lead-off walk, and then advanced to second base on a delayed steal. He then went to third base on a wild pitch by Ryan Zapata (2-1) and scored on a sacrifice fly by sophomore outfielder Michael Gonzalez (St. Bernard HS).

Sophomore relief pitcher Brian Kossler (Mayfair HS) came on in relief in the top of the eighth with a runner on first base and one out. After allowing a single to Joseph Bangle, a ground ball to sophomore shortstop Trevor McInerney (Cerritos HS/El Camino College) was thrown over the head of freshman third baseman Gregory Navarro III (West Covina HS) in an attempt to get out the lead runner. The errant throw allowed the run to score and the Eagles had runners at second and third base. Kossler (1-0) then struck out both Joseph Hauck and D.J. Dowen to end the inning. Two more strikeouts highlighted the ninth inning for Kossler.

Trailing 1-0 heading into the bottom of the fourth inning, Gonzalez hit a double into the right field gap. With two outs, McInerney drew a walk, which set the table for sophomore catcher Andre Alvarez (Walnut HS), who drove them in with a two-run double to centerfield.

Freshman starting pitcher Nicholas Martinez (La Serna HS) went the first six innings and allowed one run on six hits, while freshman John Chavez (St. John Bosco HS) tossed 1 1/3 innings and was charged with the unearned run in the eighth inning.

Gonzalez and sophomore first baseman Roberto Salazar, Jr. (Fullerton HS) each had two hits for Cerritos on the day, while Hall and McInterney reached base twice in the win.

Photos by Daryl Peterson