Baseball team falls behind early, drops game to LA Harbor

Baseball team falls behind early, drops game to LA Harbor

Irvine Valley's baseball team got behind early, tried to battle back, but couldn't catch up in a 8-5 nonconference loss to LA Harbor on Tuesday at home.

IVC's record slipped to 14-13 overall, while LA Harbor improved to 13-14.

Harbor scored the first five runs of the game.

Irvine Valley trailed, 5-0, after the top of the third inning. The Lasers came back with a run in the bottom of the third on an RBI single by sophomore designated hitter Zack Stack.

And then IVC scored three runs in the bottom of the fourth inning to make it a 5-4 game.

Freshman third baseman David Rojas doubled to bring in a run, sophomore right fielder Grant Rockefeller brought in a run with a groundout and then freshman center fielder Ben McConnell scored a run on a sacrifice fly.

But the Lasers stranded a runner in the bottom of the fourth inning at second base and then left the bases loaded with two outs in the bottom of the fifth.

LA Harbor scored two runs in the top of the sixth on a heads up base running play by Jacob Northrup and then an RBI single by Eddie Zavala to take control of the game the rest of the way.

Irvine Valley plated its final run in the bottom of the eighth inning on an RBI single by Wyatt McGinnis.

Freshman Nick Janowicz took the loss for the Lasers. He gave up five runs on five hits and three walks with four strikeouts in 3.1 innings. Janowicz's record went to 3-3 on the year.

IVC did get solid relief work from freshman righty Justin Dunham. He went 3.1 innings and gave up one run on three hits and one walk with four strikeouts.

Bladimir Becelimof picked up his first win in relief for LA Harbor. He pitched 1.2 innings and didn't allow a run. He gave up one hit and three walks with one strikeout.

TJ Louviere earned the save, getting out of a jam in the eighth and going 1.1 innings with no runs or hits allowed.

Sophomore second baseman Brett Long went 2 for 5 with one run scored and McConnell, Stack, McGinnis, Rojas and Rockefeller each drove in a run for IVC.

Irvine Valley plays at LA Harbor in the finale of the two-game set on Wednesday.