On Tuesday, the Cerritos College baseball team fought back from two-run and three-run deficits in a comeback win over Pasadena City College. On Thursday, the Falcons (11-8, 4-4) spotted the Lancers a 5-0 lead, but could not come all the way back in a 7-4 South Coast Conference loss. The two teams will play the rubber game of their series at noon on Saturday at Kincaid Field.

Trailing 5-0 heading into the top of the fifth inning and limited to just one hit, freshman outfielder Nolan Brown (Long Beach Poly HS) singled and stole second base with one out. With two outs, sophomore outfielder Bodie Parker (Cajon HS/Chaffey College) got the Falcons on the board with a two-run home run. They closed the gap even more with single runs in the sixth and seventh innings. In the sixth, freshman shortstop Andres Vega (Mary Star of the Sea HS) was hit by a pitch with two outs, moved to third on a double by sophomore second baseman Alex Bueno (Centennial, NV HS) and then scored on a wild pitch.

The score was 5-4 when sophomore catcher Owen Beebe (Long Beach Millikan HS/Golden West College) singled with two outs and stole second base. He quickly came home on a single by sophomore outfielder Buck Anderson (Lakewood HS/Cal State Bakersfield).

But Pasadena (10-10, 4-4) responded with two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning off sophomore relief pitcher Nicholas Martinez (La Serna HS). Freshman Nathaniel Davalos (Santa Fe HS) started the game and went the first six innings while allowing five runs on seven hits and struck out five. A pair of errors in the seventh inning resulted in one of the two runs being unearned against Martinez.

The Falcons had a pair of runners on base in the eighth inning but hit into a double play, while they went down in order in the ninth inning off closer Cody Crowder, who earned the save.

Photo courtesy of Pasadena City College Sports Information Office