Irvine Valley's baseball team had its chances, but lost a pair of close games on Sunday afternoon at home to Grossmont.
The doubleheader was played at IVC due to inclement weather earlier in the week.
Grossmont won the first game, 5-4, in 12 innings.
The two teams were tied at 4 after the first three innings. Pitchers for both squads took over after that with eight scoreless frames until Grossmont pushed across a run in the top of the 12th inning on a wild pitch.
Sophomore right-hander Ryan Barlow started on the mound for Irvine Valley and went seven innings. He gave up four runs (two earned) on 10 hits and one walk with three strikeouts.
Grossmont jumped out to a 4-0 lead with a two-run home run by Noah Lane in the second inning and then another two-run shot by Nevan Noonan in the third.
Irvine Valley answered with four runs in the bottom of the third inning. Sophomore first baseman Casey Kudell stole home as part of a double steal to get IVC on the board. Freshman center fielder Shane Stafford came through with a two-run double and then freshman third baseman Kevin James tied the score with a run-scoring single through the left side.
Freshman righty Chris Cody followed Barlow and threw four scoreless innings with six strikeouts. But Grossmont finished things in the top of the 12th inning.
Stafford went 2 for 6 with a double and two RBI. James, sophomore catcher Connor Tallakson and sophomore outfielder Seth Bougher each also had two hits for the Lasers.
In the second game, Irvine Valley jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Sophomore catcher Adrian Reveles singled in sophomore second baseman Nolan Cusey.
But Grossmont took the lead for good in the bottom of the third inning on a two-run home run to left by Zavien Watson.
Bougher pitched well over six innings for the Lasers, but took the loss. He gave up two runs on five hits and one walk with four strikeouts.
James went 3 for 3 at the plate and Cusey added two hits for IVC.
Bradley Barkley earned saves in both games for the Griffins.
Irvine Valley (8-7 overall) plays again, weather permitting, at LA Valley on Tuesday at 2 p.m.
