Abady, Williams lift baseball team to 2-1 win over Long Beach City

Abady, Williams lift baseball team to 2-1 win over Long Beach City

Irvine Valley freshman pitcher Ryan Abady continued the impressive start to his season on Saturday at home.

The left-handed Abady pitched a complete game and the Lasers came up with clutch hits in the eighth and ninth innings to earn a 2-1 come-from-behind victory over Long Beach City.

The win improved Irvine Valley's record to 8-4 overall and halted a two-game slide.

Abady gave up just one run (unearned) on four hits with no walks and had six strikeouts for the win.

He improved his record to 2-0 on the season and dropped his ERA (in 25.1 innings) to just 1.07.

But Abady was still on the hook for a loss going into the bottom of the eighth inning on Saturday.

Long Beach City scored its run in the top of the second on a two-base error and then an infield hit and an error.

Jackson Foss was wheeled around third to score on a bad throw after an infield hit Aaron Fawcett.

Fawcett finished with two hits on the day for Long Beach City.

The game stayed, 1-0, until the bottom of the eighth inning thanks in part to the solid pitching by Long Beach starter Schuyler Hill.

IVC freshman shortstop Cory Mendoza led off the eighth with a single to right center. Sophomore second baseman Zach Vittetow then moved Mendoza to second with a bunt.

After another out made it two outs in the inning, IVC freshman center fielder Dillon Millar hit a bouncing ball to second base that took a bad hop over the second baseman's head and into right field. It allowed Mendoza to come around and score and tie the game at 1-1.

Hill was taken out after the eighth inning.

In the bottom of the ninth inning, IVC freshman first baseman Lucas Tancas hit a double to left field off of reliever Anthony Timmons.

After an out, sophomore third baseman Adam Vargas was hit by a pitch to put runners on first and second.

And then freshman catcher Branden Williams lined a hit into left field to bring in Tancas for the winning run.

IVC freshman left fielder Clint Jack was 2 for 3 with a walk on the day. Millar was 1 for 3 with one RBI and Williams went 1 for 3 with one RBI in the win.

Hill took a no decision for Long Beach City, going eight innings and giving up one run on five hits with two walks and five strikeouts.

Long Beach City's record slipped to 2-7 overall.

Irvine Valley and Long Beach City meet again on Tuesday in Long Beach at 2 p.m.

The Lasers will then start Orange Empire Conference play next Thursday at home against Fullerton at 2 p.m.