Locked in a pitching duel with El Camino College, the Cerritos College baseball team came up short in a 5-2 South Coast Conference game at Kincaid Field on Tuesday. The loss drops the Falcons to 7-13-1 overall and 3-7 in conference play, while the Warriors are now 15-7 overall and 3-4 in conference action. The two teams will meet up on Thursday at 2:30 p.m. in Torrance in the second game of their three-game series.

Through the first eight innings, El Camino held a slim 3-2 lead, thanks to a pair of strong pitching performances by both starting pitchers. The Warriors added two runs in the top of the ninth inning, thanks to a single and four walks by the bullpen.

In the top of the first inning, the Warriors touched up freshman starting pitcher Steven Salazar (Sonora HS) for a pair of runs on a two-out double from Ethan Felix. The third run came in the fifth inning after a two-out infield single was followed by a run-scoring double.

Cerritos responded to the two runs by El Camino when freshman shortstop Julian Francois (Serra HS) led off with a walk and moved to second base on a single by freshman second baseman Andy Vega (Mary Star of the Sea HS). After freshman designated hitter Lucas Iorgulescu (Marina HS) advanced the runners with a sacrifice bunt, freshman first baseman Sawyer Chesley (Laguna Beach HS) stepped up and laced a two-run double inside the third base bag and down the line.

Throughout the game, the Falcons were able to put pressure on Warriors starting pitcher Thomas Bainton (6-1) and had runners on base in eight of the nine innings. They loaded the bases in the bottom of the sixth inning, but could not put any more runs on the board.

Iorgulescu led off the sixth inning with a walk, followed by an infield hit from Chesley. Freshman third baseman Mike Santos (Servite HS) laid down the perfect bunt, which resulted in a base hit and loaded the bases. After the first out was recorded, freshman outfielder Angel Alvarez (Arvada, CO HS) lifted a fly ball to centerfield, where Jake Harper fired a strike to home plate, which cut down Iorgulescu, who was looking to tag up and score.

Salazar (1-3) tossed the first seven innings and allowed three runs on six hits while striking out six in one of his best outings of the season. Freshman relief pitcher Dawson Holbrook (Godinez HS) pitched a perfect eighth inning, but when he allowed a single and a pair of walks, was replaced. A sacrifice fly and a bases loaded walk accounted for the final two El Camino runs.

Vega finished the day going 4-for-4 at the plate, while Chesley was 2-for-4.

Photos by Daryl Peterson