Irvine Valley stayed with one of the top teams in the state for five innings on Thursday at the OC Great Park.
But after scoring two runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to pull within 3-2 of Santa Ana, the Lasers couldn't get much else going offensively.
Santa Ana added two runs in the top of the sixth and two more in the seventh on their way to a 8-2 victory.
The Dons, ranked fifth in the state, improved their record to 27-8-1 overall and 11-6 in the Orange Empire Conference. IVC's record fell to 15-21 overall and 3-14 in conference.
Santa Ana has won six of its last seven games.
IVC made it a one-run game in the bottom of the fifth on a RBI double by freshman shortstop Nick Madole and a RBI single by sophomore outfielder Joey Lapolla.
But Santa Ana answered with the four runs over the next two innings to take control.
Irvine Valley finished with seven hits on the afternoon with three of them coming from Lapolla.
Santa Ana had 15 hits and was led by Kyle Ashworth, who was 2 for 3 with two walks and two RBI, and Evan Leibl, who went 2 for 5 with a home run and three RBI.
Sophomore left-hander Nate Madole battled on the mound for the Lasers and finished with seven strikeouts. Madole (1-4) went five innings and gave up three runs on six hits and five walks.
Brady Ashworth earned the win for the Dons, pitching seven innings and giving up two runs on seven hits and one walk with four strikeouts.
The two teams finish the three-game set on Saturday at Santa Ana at noon.
