Two outs away from their third straight win, the Cerritos College baseball team dropped a 7-6 decision against host Los Angeles Pierce College on Friday. The Falcons (4-7) will now start South Coast Conference play with a three-game series against Mt. San Antonio, with the first game in Walnut at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday.

Leading 6-5 heading into the bottom of the ninth inning, the Brahmas pushed across two runs off sophomore relief pitcher Tony Lendvai (La Mirada HS). They collected two hits and a pair of walks, which enabled them to win the game, with the winning hit coming with two outs.

Cerritos opened a 3-0 lead, as they took advantage of three LA Pierce errors to help them along the way. The first run came home in the top of the first inning when a fielder's choice by freshman catcher Nate Gardenswartz (Long Beach Wilson HS) drove in freshman second baseman Cruz Mata (Palos Verdes HS), who singled. With two outs in the top of the third inning, sophomore first baseman Dean Ormonde (Long Beach Millikan HS) beat out an infield single and advanced to second base after an error. Freshman outfielder Scott Mitchell (Brea Olinda HS) followed with an RBI single, while a second run would score on a throwing error.

Freshman starting pitcher Cade Sonoqui (Long Beach Millikan HS) tossed the first four innings and allowed three runs (two earned) and struck out four batters. Sophomore Carter Stoddard (Long Beach Millikan HS) kept the Brahmas in check during his 3 1/3innings, as he allowed one run on two hits.

It was 4-1 after Mata doubled home freshman shortstop AJ Gonzalez (Torrance HS), who singled and moved to second base on a base hit by freshman outfielder Miles Hughes (Carson HS). After the Brahmas made it a 4-3 game, Cerritos responded with two more runs in the fifth inning for a 6-3 advantage. Mitchell drew a one-out walk, while the bases became loaded after freshman pinch-hitter Chris Marquis (San Juan Hills HS) and Gonzalez each walked with two outs. The first run came in on another walk by sophomore pinch-hitter Isaac Vega (Mary Star of the Sea HS/Los Angeles Harbor College), with Hughes driving in the Falcons last run with a base hit.

The Falcons left 13 runners on base, which included eight in scoring position, including twice with the bases loaded. They had a chance to add to their lead in the ninth, but could not come up with a hit with the bases loaded.

Hughes went 3-for-5 and reached base four times, while Mata was 3-for-6 on the day.