After leaving the bases loaded in the bottom of the eighth inning, visiting Chaffey College was able to come back squeeze to home the winning run in the top of the ninth inning in a 5-4 South Coast Conference game on Monday at Kincad Field. The Falcons (1-11, 0-2) will get right back at it on Tuesday with a 2:00 p.m. conference game at East Los Angeles College.

In the top of the ninth inning, the Panthers Jacob Martin dropped a tailing double into left field with out one. After Eddie Pietschmann was intentionally walked, a double-steal put runners at second and third base. Brad Chesterson then dropped down a suicide squeeze bunt that plated pinch-runner Tommy Rodriguez with the eventual game-winning run.

With one last chance to extend the game, freshman second baseman Alex Bueno (Centennial, NV HS) reached base when a third strike got past Chesterson for a passed ball. Looking to advance the runner, Bueno took off on a delayed steal and was thrown out for the first out of the inning. With two outs, sophomore outfielder Michael Gonzalez (St. Bernard HS) was hit by a pitch, which brought to the plate sophomore outfielder Cody Ahrens (Mayfair HS/Hope International University), who already had a pair of hits. He lined a shot to right field that was pulled in for the final out of the game.

The Falcons were able to load the bases with one out in the bottom of the eight inning when sophomore catcher Andre Alvarez (Walnut HS) laced a single up the middle, followed by a double into the left-centerfield gap by sophomore third baseman Trevor McInerney (Cerritos HS/El Camino College). Sophomore first baseman Roberto Salazar, Jr. (Fullerton HS) was intentionally walked, which brought on relief pitcher Zuko Tillman. Freshmen Matt Den Hartog (Los Alamitos HS) and Shea Estrin (West HS) both struck out, which ended the scoring threat.

It was a quick 2-0 lead for Cerritos after the first inning, as sophomore shortstop Aaron Paek (Sunny Hills HS/Hope International University) singled with one out and came home on a double from Ahrens. Alvarez followed with an RBI double. Salazar accounted for the other run with a lead-off home run in the bottom of the fourth inning.

Sophomore starting pitcher Joshua Jorgensen (Lakewood HS/East Los Angeles College) pitched the first 6 2/3 innings and allowed four runs on six hits, while striking out seven batters. Freshman pitcher Leonard Salas (California HS) came on in relief in the seventh inning and limited the Panthers to just one hit before giving up the winning run and suffering the loss.