Baseball team's late rally falls short against Allan Hancock

Baseball team's late rally falls short against Allan Hancock

Irvine Valley's baseball team tried to rally with two runs in the bottom of the eighth and four runs in the bottom of the ninth inning, but it still wasn't enough in a 11-10 loss to Allan Hancock on Friday at home.

Allan Hancock won all three games it played against the Lasers over the last week and improved its record to 7-6 overall. Irvine Valley's record slipped to 9-7 overall.

The Bulldogs scored three runs in the top of the eighth to take a 11-4 lead.

But the Lasers kept battling.

Sophomore shortstop Colin Conroy had an RBI double and sophomore designated hitter Zack Stack hit an RBI single to get IVC within 11-6 in the bottom of the eighth.

Then in the bottom of the ninth, right fielder Grant Rockefeller hit an RBI double to make it  11-7. The Lasers plated another run on a groundout to get within 11-8. Freshman third baseman David Rojas hit an RBI single up the middle to make it 11-9.

After the second out of the inning and a walk to Conroy, Stack singled through the right side to score Rojas and pull Irvine Valley within 11-10. Conroy moved up to third base on the play and was the potential tying run.

But Allan Hancock reliever Ismael Hernandez struck out Irvine Valley sophomore first baseman Cooper Moore to end the game.

Hernandez earned his third save of the year, pitching one inning and giving up one unearned run on two hits and one walk with one strikeout.

Dylan Maiden picked up the win. He went 5.2 innings and gave up four runs (three earned) on eight hits and one walk with three strikeouts.

Irvine Valley freshman Kennan Cisneros was charged with the loss. He went 4.2 innings and gave up six runs on 10 hits and one walk with five strikeouts.

The two teams combined for 32 hits in the game.

IVC had 15 hits. Stack was 3 for 5 with a walk and three RBI and Rockefeller went 3 for 5 with two runs scored and one RBI.

Conroy was 2 for 3 with a walk, a run and two RBI, freshman catcher Ryan Santa Cruz went 2 for 2 with two RBI and Rojas was 2 for 5 with two runs scored and one RBI.

Jake Shusterich was 4 for 5 with three RBI to pace Allan Hancock's offensive attack.

Irvine Valley plays again next Tuesday at home, hosting West LA at 2 p.m.