Baseball team drops close one at Cypress

Baseball team drops close one at Cypress

Irvine Valley's baseball team got a standout pitching performance from sophomore right-handed pitcher Jesus Meza, but the Lasers still came up short at Cypress on Saturday.

Meza and Cypress starter Steven Kane each threw complete games as the Chargers came out on top, 2-1.

It was Irvine Valley's eighth straight defeat in the Orange Empire Conference and dropped its record to 6-16 overall.

Cypress won for the fourth time in its last 12 games. Cypress improved to 13-10 overall.

The Lasers only run of the day came in the top of the first inning after freshman center fielder Brett Hamilton hit a double that drove in sophomore shortstop Dallas Porter from second base.

In the third inning, the Chargers answered back off a Jack Flansburg single to right field that scored Brandon Morones from second.

Things remained quiet until the sixth inning when Cypress's Joe Duffin led off with a solo home run over left field off of Meza to put the Chargers ahead, 2-1.

Meza went eight innings and gave up two runs on eight hist with five walks and seven strikeouts.

Kane pitched nine innings and allowed one run on five hits with no walks and eight strikeouts.

Irvine Valley got a hit each in the game from Hamilton, Porter, sophomore left fielder Matt Harris, freshman catcher Pedro Gonzalez and freshman second baseman Zach Vittetow.

Irvine Valley and Cypress have each now won a game in the three-game season series. The finale will be played on Tuesday at IVC at 2 p.m.