Trailing 5-1 heading into the bottom of the eighth inning, the Cerritos College baseball team scored five runs and took a 6-5 lead with only three outs to record. However, visiting Long Beach City College scored three runs in the top of the ninth inning and came away with an 8-6 South Coast Conference win over the Falcons. The loss snaps an 11-game winning streak for Cerritos (17-3, 6-1), who still have two more games against Long Beach City (12-8, 7-3).

In the bottom of the eighth inning, freshman outfielder Owen Martin (Narbonne HS) led off with a single, while a double into the left-center gap by sophomore outfielder Evan Saito (Torrance HS) resulted in the first run of the inning. On the play, LB City centerfielder Danny Rodriguez missed the cut-off throw, allowing Martin to score. After a pitching change, freshman designated hitter Brody Cuellar (Bishop Montgomery HS) drew a walk, followed by an RBI single from freshman first baseman Wyatt  Ormonde (Long Beach Millikan HS). Sophomore second baseman Dylan Immel (El Segundo HS) kept the inning alive when he was hit by a pitch. That brought freshman third baseman Mateo Heredia (El Segundo HS) up to face new pitcher Adrian Arellano, who laced a two-run single to tie the game. The Falcons took the lead on a sacrifice fly from sophomore catcher Nate Gardenswartz (Long Beach Wilson HS).

Freshman starting pitcher Nolan Patterson (Long Beach Millikan HS) was victimized by some shaky defense, as the four-run fifth inning by Long Beach City was possible due to an uncommon error by Martin in center field. He camped under a fly ball from Eshua Desai, but dropped the ball, which would have been the second out of the inning. After the second out was recorded, a pair of walks loaded the bases for Rodriguez, who cleared the bases with a three-run double. Ryan Lopetegui followed with an RBI single to put Long Beach up, 4-1.

Another error led to the fifth Vikings run in the seventh inning, while a third error of the game opened the door for the three runs that were scored off freshman relief pitcher Jake Fowler (Los Alamitos HS).

Saito went 3-for-5 on the day with an RBI, while Immel had a pair of hits and scored a run.

Photos by Daryl Peterson