Baseball team wins in 12 and then ties in home doubleheader

Baseball team wins in 12 and then ties in home doubleheader

Irvine Valley's baseball team beat San Diego Mesa in extra innings and then tied the Olympians in a seven-inning contest as part of a doubleheader at home on Tuesday.

The doubleheader was scheduled at IVC to help get a game in before the rain hits Southern California later in the week.

Irvine Valley defeated San Diego Mesa, 3-2, in 12 innings in the first game. Freshman shortstop Robert Haw squeezed in sophomore second baseman Trent Whitaker with one out in the bottom of the 12th to help the Lasers earn the victory.

The two teams combined for 28 hits in the contest, but only the five runs. Both teams had plenty of chances to break the game open along the way.

IVC did get solid pitching efforts from freshman right-hander Brennen Farber and sophomore right-hander Justin Dunham in the win.

Farber started and went six innings. He allowed one run on 10 hits. Dunham picked up after that and also pitched six innings. He gave up one run (unearned) on four hits with seven strikeouts.

Trevor Beards took the loss in relief for San Diego Mesa. He went 2.1 innings and gave up one run on three hits and three walks with one strikeout.

Freshman left fielder Kyle Dobson went 4 for 5 with a walk and a run scored, Whitaker was 3 for 5 with a walk and a run scored and Haw went 3 for 6 with two RBI to lead IVC at the plate.

The second game was scheduled for seven innings and went the distance without a winner.

Irvine Valley, which was the visiting team, scored two runs in the top of the second inning to take a 2-1 lead thanks to an Olympian error.

San Diego Mesa tied the game at 2-2 in the bottom of the fifth.

Each team scored a run in the sixth inning to level the game at 3-3. But neither team could find another run.

And the game was called after seven innings because of darkness.

Irvine Valley scored its run in the sixth on an RBI groundout by freshman catcher Dante Catalino.

Sophomore right-hander Chad Burchit pitched five innings and gave up two runs on two hits and four walks with two strikeouts.

Sophomore reliever Noah Bradford came in after that and pitched two innings. He gave up one run on three hits with two strikeouts.

Whitaker went 2 for 3 and Catalino was 1 for 2 with two RBI for IVC at the plate.

Irvine Valley is scheduled to play again on Friday at home against LA Valley at noon.

*Note – Irvine Valley's game vs. LA Valley on Friday, Feb. 15 at home has been postponed due to wet field conditions. It will be made up at a later date.