Freshman left-hander Jason Farese pitched 7.1 strong innings, freshman center fielder Ben McConnell and freshman third baseman David Rojas each had three hits and the Lasers defeated West LA, 9-2, on Tuesday at home.
Irvine Valley, which starts Orange Empire Conference action next week, improved its record to 10-7 overall. West LA, which made six errors in the contest, saw its record drop to 1-14 overall.
Farese pitched well throughout, but the Lasers still trailed, 2-1, after the top of the fifth inning.
The bottom of the fifth was the difference for IVC.
The Lasers put up six runs to take a 7-2 lead and control of the game.
In that big bottom of the fifth for Irvine Valley, IVC scored a run on an error, sophomore catcher Ryan Gaynor and sophomore designated hitter Matt Montoya each had RBI singles, Rojas hit a two-run double and McConnell capped the inning with a RBI single to center field.
Montoya gave the Lasers insurance runs in the bottom of the eighth inning with a bad-hop single past the West LA first baseman to drive in two runs and make it a 9-2 game.
It was more than enough for Farese and freshman reliever Chad Burchit.
Farese improved to 3-2 after pitching 7.1 innings and giving up just two runs (one earned) on four hits and three walks with six strikeouts.
Burchit picked it up from there and went 1.2 scoreless innings with a walk and three strikeouts.
Burchit pitched a perfect ninth inning, getting a groundout to sophomore shortstop Colin Conroy to end the game.
McConnell went 3 for 5 with a double, two runs scored and one RBI in the contest. He also made a diving catch in center field for the defensive play of the game.
Coach Kent Madole praised McConnell's toughness for helping Irvine Valley earn the victory.
Rojas went 3 for 5 with a double and two RBI, Montoya was 2 for 5 with three RBI and sophomore right fielder Zack Stack was 2 for 4 with two runs scored and one RBI in the game.
Irvine Valley hosts Saddleback next Tuesday at 2 p.m. in the conference opener.
Heading into OEC action, Irvine Valley is hitting .293 as a team. McConnell leads the way, batting .417 with 24 runs scored, seven doubles, three triples and 16 RBI. Stack is hitting .377 with two home runs and 19 RBI, Conroy is batting .375 and sophomore outfielder Grant Rockefeller is batting .311 with 10 RBI.
Freshman Nick Janowicz leads the staff. He is 3-1 with a 1.55 ERA in 29.0 innings. He has struck out 32 batters.
Freshman reliever Noah Bradford is 2-1 with one save and a 1.96 ERA in 18.1 innings. He has 15 strikeouts.
Burchit is 1-2 with one save and a 2.96 ERA in 27.1 innings for Irvine Valley.
