Facing visiting Pasadena City College in a South Coast Conference game on Friday, the Cerritos College baseball team posted an 8-6 win. It marks the 10th win in a row for the Falcons (16-2, 5-0), who will close out their series against the Lancers (10-6, 5-3) at noon on Saturday at Jackie Robinson Field.

Cerritos opened  5-0 lead through the first two innings, and were able to hold off Pasadena City, who had several good scoring chances late in the game.

The game opened with sophomore starting pitcher Noah Andrunas (Gahr HS/UC Riverside) being able to escape the first inning without allowing any runs. With two outs and runners at first and second base, a base hit to the right side of the field appeared to load the bases. But the Lancers Joaquin Salcido tried to score from second base and was thrown out at the plate for the third out of the inning.

The Falcons responded with three runs in the bottom of the first inning, as freshman outfielder Owen Martin (Narbonne HS) was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning, followed by sophomore outfielder Diego Orozco (Long Beach wilson HS) drawing his state-leading 31st walk. Sophomore outfielder Evan Saito (Torrance HS) then drove home Martin, with Orozco taking third on the play. Saito then stole second base before freshman designated hitter Brody Cuellar (Bishop Montgomery HS) picked up an RBI on a ground out. Freshman first baseman Wyatt Ormonde (Long Beach Millikan HS) followed with an RBI single to close out the scoring.

Sophomore catcher Daniel Cuadras (Warren HS/Golden West College) led off the second inning with a single, moved to second base on a ground out and eventually scored in a single up the middle by Saito. Prior to the hit, Orozco picked up another walk and eventually scored on a base loaded walk to Ormonde.

The Lancers cut into the Falcons lead in the top of the fifth inning when Isaac Ton doubled home three runners with two outs off Andrunas (7-0), who became the first pitcher in the state to win seven games. He tossed six innings and allowed three runs while striking out nine batters.

Cerritos responded with three runs of their own in the bottom of the stanza, as sophomore second baseman Dylan Immel (El Segundo HS) led off with a bunt single before freshman third baseman Mateo Heredia (El Segundo HS) was hit by a pitch. Originally called a double play on a ball hit by Cuadras, the call at the plate was overturned, which gave the Falcons runners at first and third with one out instead of a runner on third with two outs. They capitalized on the opportunity, as freshman shortstop Fabian Ochoa (Warren HS) drove in a run with a single, followed by an RBI double from Martin. Orozco drove in the final run of the game for the Falcons with a sacrifice fly.

In the top of the seventh inning, Pasadena City took advantage of a Cerritos error and scored a pair of runs off sophomore relief pitcher Holden Hungerford (Warren HS/Cal State Los Angeles). Unable to get out of the inning, freshman Jake Fowler (Los Alamitos HS) recorded the final two outs of the inning and went on to collect his second save of the season, as he pitched the remainder of the game. Fowler also struck out five batters.

Saito went 3-for-4 at the plate with a walk two RBI, while Orozco scored a pair of runs and added two walks and an RBI. Six different players drove in runs for the Falcons, with Ormonde plating two runs.

Photos by Daryl Peterson