Scoring runs in each of the first six innings, the Cerritos College baseball team came away with a 9-4 win over visiting Los Angeles Valley College on Friday. The Falcons (2-2) will look for their third straight win in the 4th Annual SoCal Challenge when they host San Joaquin Delta College at noon on Saturday. This will be the second year in a row the two teams have met in the tournament. THey had never faced each other before last season.

In the bottom of the first inning, sophomore shortstop Julian Francois (Serra HS) led off with a walk, advanced to second on a wild pitch and then stole third base. The came home on a single from sophomore first baseman Daniel Mariscal (Long Beach Poly HS). The runs continued in the second inning, as freshman outfielder Isaac Vega (Mary Star of the Sea HS) was hit by a pitch and moved to second base on a passed ball. He eventually came home on an infield out by freshman catcher Conner Sullivan (Palos Verdes HS).

Freshman starting pitcher Franky Lopez (Dominguez HS) was the recipient of the run support, as he shut down the Monarchs (3-3) over five innings. He worked out of trouble in the first inning by getting Sebastian Garcia to line into a double play. The third inning ended the same way, as Tino Valdez lined into a double play. Lopez (1-0) finished the game with six strikeouts and allowed just two hits.

The Falcon offense continued in the third inning with Vega driving in the third run of the game, while a three-run fourth inning made it a 6-0 lead. The first run scored on a double steal, with Francois coming home after getting on base with a bunt. A fielder's choice moved him to second, with Mariscal collecting his second of three hits to keep the inning alive. On the double steal, Mariscal advanced to second base, which set the table for freshman designated hitter Ryan Skjonsby (Long Beach Poly HS), who singled in a run. Sophomore outfielder Dean Ormonde (Long Beach Millikan HS) drove in the third run of the inning with a sacrifice fly.

By the end of the game, Mariscal and Vega each had three hits, with Francois and Skjonsby each checking in with a pair of hits. 

The pitching staff finished with 12 strikeouts on the day, with each of the three relievers posting a pair of strikeouts.