Irvine Valley's baseball team earned its first win in Orange Empire Conference play thanks to another strong start by freshman pitcher Ryan Abady and some aggressive offense in the sixth inning on Saturday at home.
After dropping their conference opener in 12 tough innings against Fullerton on Thursday, IVC came through with a 4-1 win over Riverside.
Irvine Valley improved its record to 9-6 overall and 1-1 in conference, while Riverside fell to 12-3 overall and 0-2 in conference.
Abady was a rock on the mound, going eight innings and giving up just one run on seven hits and four walks with four strikeouts.
He also had a hand in picking off four Riverside base runners, including one in the top of the third inning with a throw and then perfect swipe by freshman first baseman Lucas Tancas to record the out.
Abady had Riverside hitters off balance for most of the afternoon.
His only real trouble came in the top of the sixth when the Tigers scored their run.
Garrison Cole and David Schuknecht each singled with one out.
After getting the next batter to pop out, Abady gave up consecutive walks to Garrett Dean and Anthony Ayala to bring in a run.
Abady limited further damage by getting Austin Monte to fly out to end the inning.
Down, 1-0, Irvine Valley answered right back in the bottom of the sixth against Riverside starting pitcher Tyler Tungate.
Freshman center fielder Dillon Millar legged out a triple after hitting a liner down the left field line.
Sophomore right fielder Brett Hamilton then smashed a hard grounder through a drawn in infield for a single that scored Millar and tied the game.
Tancas then reached on an infield single and when the throw from Riverside third baseman Brody Weiss got away, Hamilton was able to move to third and Tancas went to second base.
Freshman designated hitter Robbie Espinosa then laid down a perfect squeeze bunt that scored Hamilton and gave Irvine Valley a 2-1 lead.
Tancas scored soon after on a passed ball by Riverside.
Irvine Valley added an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth. Millar walked to lead off.
Two batters later, Tancas came through with another infield hit.
With two outs, freshman catcher Branden Williams lined a single up the middle to bring home Millar and put Irvine Valley ahead, 4-1.
IVC freshman reliever Marco Bedolla entered the game in the top of the ninth and set down the Riverside side in order, including striking out Mason Fishback to end the game.
Bedolla earned his first save of the season.
Tungate took the loss for Riverside. He gave up four runs (two earned) on six hits and two walks with three strikeouts.
Irvine Valley only had one hit through five innings against Tungate, but finished with six on the day.
Tancas was 3 for 3 and Millar went 1 for 3 with a walk and two runs scored for Irvine Valley.
Ayala, Weiss and Cole each had two hits for Riverside.
Irvine Valley plays again on Tuesday, traveling to Cypress for a 2 p.m. game.