Irvine Valley freshman Austin Reynolds pitched a complete game shutout and helped his cause with a first-inning RBI single as the visiting Lasers earned a 5-0 win over Riverside in an Orange Empire Conference game Tuesday at Evans Sports Complex.
It was the first of a three-game series between the two teams.
Reynolds, a freshman right-hander from Canyon High, had only pitched 10.0 innings (7.20 earned run average) all season (including one previous start), but allowed only two Tigers to reach third base in a masterful performance.
In the route-going effort, Reynolds, who made 130 pitches (77 strikes), scattered six hits and allowed only three walks along with four strikeouts to improve to 2-0 for Irvine Valley.
He helped Irvine Valley's record to 14-20 overall and 5-14 in conference.
Reynolds' counterpart, RCC starting sophomore Angel Delgado didn't fare as well.
Delgado, who had two hard-hit comebackers ricochet off him (right shin and right ankle area) lasted only 3-1/3 innings and allowed all five runs (three earned) on nine hits (zero walks) with two strikeouts as his record fell to 6-3 for Riverside.
The Tigers record slipped to 19-15 overall and 7-12 in conference.
Irvine Valley opened the scoring in the first inning. Singles by sophomore left fielder Clint Jack and sophomore third baseman Kyle Golden set the table for the Lasers.
Sophomore shortstop Jordan Gillerman had a RBI single for a 1-0 lead. A ground out to third base made it 2-0 and Reynolds made it 3-0 with a RBI single.
In the top of the second inning, freshman first baseman Cole Joy singled and scored, and Golden had a RBI single and scored (unearned) on a RBI double by Gillerman.
Jack, Golden and Gillerman each finished with three hits on the day for IVC.
RCC had only two runners reach third base: sophomore Sean Smith, who doubled to left-center field in the third inning with two outs, and Brody Weiss. Weiss went 2 for 4 to lead RCC.
Riverside reliever Christian Stiegele pitched 4 2/3 shut-out innings and allowed only three hits in relief of Delgado.
Both teams return to OEC action on Thursday at 2 p.m. when Riverside visits Irvine Valley in the second game of the series.