After getting off to a 7-0 start, the Cerritos College baseball team is now mired in a three-game losing skid after an 11-8 loss at Santa Ana College on Thursday. The Falcons (7-3) get another shot at the Dons (9-1) when they host them at Kincaid Field on Saturday at noon.

Cerritos got on the board with a pair of runs in the top of the second inning, but saw Santa Ana score nine consecutive runs over the next three innings to take a commanding 9-3 advantage. Trailing 10-3, the Falcons scored five of the final six runs of the game over the final three innings.

In the top of the seventh inning, sophomore outfielder Buck Anderson (Lakewood HS/Cal State Bakersfield) and freshman second baseman Andres Vega (Mary Star of the Sea HS) drew consecutive one-out walks and then advanced on a wild pitch. That set the table for sophomore shortstop Alex Bueno (Centennial, NV HS), who blasted a three-run home run to draw the Falcons closer. 

They closed out the game by taking advantage of a Santa Ana error to start the ninth inning. Anderson drew another walk, while Vega was hit by a pitch to load the bases. With two outs, freshman designated hitter David Hays (St. John Bosco HS) laced a two-run single to cap off the scoring.

On the day, the Falcons had their hands full with starting pitcher Josh Haley, who went the first six innings. They did get on him early when sophomore third baseman Richard Castro (Bishop Amat HS/Cal State San Bernardino) doubled in Anderson, who led off with his first of three walks on the day. Hays added an RBI single for the second run of the inning. Cerritos left five runners on base with Haley in the game, which included two in the fourth inning.

For the second consecutive game, and third time on the year, Anderson drew three free passes, with Bueno and Hays both driving in three runs. 

Sophomore starting pitcher Nicholas Martinez (La Serna HS) lasted only 2 2/3 innings, while Cerritos ended up using seven pitchers on the day.