Baseball team gets it done against Mt. San Antonio

Baseball team gets it done against Mt. San Antonio

Irvine Valley's baseball team ran its win streak to five in a row with a 7-3 win over Mt. San Antonio on Monday afternoon at home.

The game was a makeup from a contest that was rained out last week.

Irvine Valley scored early and often and get another big effort on the mound in improving its record to 6-3 overall.

Mt. SAC's record slipped to 3-4 overall.

Irvine Valley racked up 14 hits on the afternoon.

The Lasers led, 5-0, through three innings.

IVC got on the board with two runs in the bottom of the second inning. Sophomore shortstop Tyler Odekirk bunted for a single to drive in freshman catcher Ryan Gaynor from third base.

The next batter, freshman third baseman Ryan Rafferty, singled to center to score freshman center fielder Nick Jacobson.

Irvine Valley then added three runs in the bottom of the third inning.

Jacobson had an RBI single and then Odekirk singled through the left side to bring in two runs and make it a 5-0 game.

Irvine Valley went up, 6-0, in the bottom of the fifth after an errant pickoff throw allowed freshman second baseman Colin Conroy to score from third. Conroy walked to lead off the inning.

IVC sophomore starting pitcher John Stevens was in control through the first six innings, not allowing a run and only giving up one hit.

But Mt. SAC came back with three runs in the top of the seventh to make things interesting.

They scored the three runs on two hits, two errors, a fielder's choice and a wild pitch.

Irvine Valley answered with a run in the bottom of the seventh on an Odekirk RBI groundout. It put the Lasers up, 7-3.

Mt. SAC loaded the bases off IVC freshman reliever Rafael Salas in the top of the ninth.

But IVC sophomore Tyler Venturelli came in and struck out Antonio Muniz to end the game and earn the save.

Stevens ended up going seven innings and gave up three runs (none earned) on three hits and two walks with six strikeouts.

Salas pitched 1.2 innings and allowed three hits and one walk with one strikeout.

Christian Longoria took the loss for Mt. SAC, giving up five runs on eight hits and two walks in 2.2 innings.

At the plate, IVC was led by Gaynor, who went 3 for 4 with three runs scored and a stolen base, and Odekirk, who was 2 for 5 with four RBI.

Rafferty went 2 for 5 with one RBI and Jacobsen was 2 for 2 with two walks, two stolen bases and one RBI.

Mt. SAC got two hits and a run scored from catcher Jose Urbina.

Irvine Valley plays again at home on Tuesday. It hosts Grossmont at 2 p.m.