Irvine Valley's baseball team let a late lead slip away in a 7-6 defeat to College of the Desert in the first game of the 7th annual David Buttles Memorial Tournament on Thursday afternoon at Desert.
Irvine Valley's record slipped to 1-3 on the year. Desert picked up its first win of the season and improved to 1-2.
The Lasers held a 6-0 lead after four innings of play.
Sophomore shortstop Tyler Odekirk scored on a wild pitch in the top of the first, freshman center fielder Michael Hascup drove in a run with a groundout in the second to make it a 2-0 game.
IVC put three runs across in the top of the third. Sophomore designated hitter Robbie Espinosa had an RBI single, sophomore right fielder Tyler Wagner hit a sacrifice fly to right for another run and then freshman catcher Ryan Gaynor added an RBI single to give Irvine Valley at 5-0 lead.
In the top of the fourth inning, IVC went ahead, 6-0, after a RBI double by freshman left fielder Zack Stack.
But the Lasers couldn't hold on.
The Roadrunners scored two runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to get on the board and then took a 7-6 lead with a five-run bottom of the seventh inning.
Jerred Soriano drove in what turned out to be the winning run with an RBI single to center.
Irvine Valley had another chance, loading the bases with one out in the top of the ninth inning. But IVC couldn't score.
The Lasers ended up with just eight hits on the day and all eight came in the first four innings.
Odekirk was 2 for 4 with a double, a stolen base and two runs scored. Espinosa and Stack each went 1 for 3 with a walk and one RBI.
Sophomore John Stevens started on the mound for IVC and went 4.1 innings, allowing two runs on six hits and two walks with five strikeouts.
Freshman Eric Brunst followed in relief and pitched 2.1 innings, allowing four runs (two earned) on four hits and a walk with two strikeouts.
Freshman Wyatt McGinnis took the loss. He pitched a third of an inning and allowed one run (unearned) on two hits and two walks.
Sophomore Matt Markus threw a scoreless eighth inning with two strikeouts for IVC.
Irvine Valley plays again in the tournament on Friday against Palomar at 2 p.m.