Irvine Valley's baseball team earned its best win of the season in its biggest game of the year to date.
Behind the power at the plate by sophomore right fielder Brett Hamilton and the mastery on the mound from freshman left-handed pitcher Ryan Abady, IVC, seeded 17th, shut out second-seeded Oxnard, 8-0, in the opening game of a California Community College Athletic Association regional game on Friday at Oxnard.
The Lasers won the first game of the three-game series and are now just one victory away from advancing on in the playoffs.
The second game of the series is at 11 a.m. on Saturday.
Friday's victory was Irvine Valley's fourth-straight win and improved its record to 22-16 overall. Oxnard fell to 26-10-1 overall.
Irvine Valley beat one of the top pitchers in the state. Blake Redman went into the game with a record of 13-0 on the season. He hadn't lost a game at Oxnard since April of 2014.
But the Lasers grinded for two runs off the bat in the top of the first to get out in front.
Freshman left fielder Clint Jack singled and then freshman designated hitter Trey Ryan reached on a bunt. An error moved the runners to second and third.
Hamilton hit a sacrifice fly to score Clint and two batters later, with two outs, freshman center fielder Dillon Millar singled to bring in Ryan.
Irvine Valley pushed across a run in the top of the third on an RBI groundout by freshman first baseman Lucas Tancas. It brought in Ryan, who singled earlier in the inning.
Irvine Valley added to its lead in the top of the fourth. Freshman catcher Branden Williams' groundout scored freshman second baseman Cory Mendoza, who singled to lead off the frame.
And then with the bases loaded and two outs, Hamilton cleared the bases with grand slam off of Redman to right field.
The homer gave Irvine Valley a 8-0 lead.
Abady did the rest, going the distance for the shutout victory. He gave up just five hits and three walks with two hit batters and two strikeouts. Abady was also helped by IVC turning five double plays.
Abady improved his record to 8-3 on the year. It was his fourth complete game of the season.
Irvine Valley finished with 13 hits on the afternoon.
Hamilton was 3 for 4 with the slam and five RBI. Jack was 2 for 4 with a double and a walk and Mendoza went 2 for 5 to lead IVC's offense.