Zielinski delivers Super Regional appearance for baseball team

Zielinski delivers Super Regional appearance for baseball team

Irvine Valley's baseball team is back in a Super Regional series for the first time since 2008.

Irvine Valley, seeded 17th, swept No. 2 Oxnard at Oxnard in two games this past weekend.

The Lasers, who improved their record to 23-16 overall, next play at No. 1 Palomar this Friday through Sunday.

Irvine Valley got two stellar pitching performances to beat Oxnard last weekend.

Freshman left-hander Ryan Abady got the Lasers started on Friday with a complete game shutout in a 8-0 Laser win.

Abady improved his record to 8-3 overall. He gave up just five hits and three walks and had two strikeouts in the effort.

Sophomore right fielder Brett Hamilton came up big at the plate for IVC. He went 3 for 4 with five RBI, including a grand slam to put the game away in the top of the fourth inning.

Irvine Valley then won the series on Saturday at Oxnard with another superb effort by sophomore ace pitcher Justin Zielinski.

Zielinski pitched his school-record eighth complete game of the season in a 1-0 Irvine Valley victory.

He gave up just five hits and four walks with two strikeouts in going the distance.

"He has been a monster for us," IVC coach Kent Madole said.

Zielinski lowered his ERA to 1.13 on the year. He has thrown 111.1 innings and given up just 18 runs (14 earned). Batters are hitting just .231 against him this season.

Irvine Valley, as the home team the second day, scored the lone run of the game in the bottom of the seventh inning.

IVC made it all happen with two outs.

Freshman shortstop Jordan Gillerman, who had two hits on the day, singled with two outs to get the rally started.

Freshman catcher Branden Williams then singled and then sophomore third baseman Zach Vittetow came through with a single to load the bases.

Then freshman left fielder Clint Jack worked a full count and was hit by a pitch by Oxnard's Oscar Sandoval to bring in Irvine Valley's run.

Oxnard got two runners on in the top of the eighth and a runner on in the top of the ninth, but Zielinski was able to close the game out.

Jack went 1 for 3 with one RBI, IVC freshman first baseman Lucas Tancas was 1 for 3, Williams went 1 for 2 with a walk, Vittetow was 1 for 3 and Gillerman went 2 for 3 with a run scored for IVC.