Looking to get back the run they allowed in the top of the 10th inning, the Cerritos College baseball team saw the final out of the game come at home plate. The end result was a 6-5, 10-inning loss to #10-ranked Fresno City College at Elks Field in Santa Maria Tuesday night. The Falcons (9-22-1) will take on Cuesta College (18-12) in the second game of the Santa Maria Tournament at 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday.

In the top of the 10th inning, the Rams (25-6) were able to get their leadoff hitter on base against freshman relief pitcher Steven Salazar (Sonora HS). A potential double play ball ended up backfiring, as an error on the play allowed Kristian Gomez to reach base and then advance to second on an error. Gomez moved to third on a wild pitch and then scored when Connor Martin laced a single.

Freshman second baseman Andy Vega (Mary Star of the Sea HS) singled in the bottom of the 10th inning, but was thrown out at second base when he tried to advance on the hit. With two outs, sophomore designated hitter Alex Bueno (Centennial, NV HS) drew a walk, with freshman Elijah Fountain (Grand Lake, LA HS) inserted as a pinch-runner. Freshman first baseman Sawyer Chesley (Laguna Beach HS) followed by drilling a double that looked to score Fountain and tie the game. But on the play, Fountain was thrown out at the plate for the final out of the game.

Trailing 5-3 heading into the bottom of the seventh inning, Cerritos was able to tie the game after scoring twice. The trio of sophomore outfielder Hasan Standifer (San Pedro HS/Jackson State University), freshman third baseman Mike Santos (Servite HS) and freshman outfielder Julian Francois (Serra HS) all walked with one out. Freshman outfielder Jason Givins (Santa Fe HS) drove in the first run with a single, while a fielder's choice by Vega plated the second run of the inning.

Freshman starting pitcher Justin Almeda (Gahr HS) went the first four innings and allowed four runs on four hits, while Salazar (1-6) went the final six innings. He struck out nine batters, but was victimized by the unearned run in the 10th inning and absorbed the loss.