Irvine Valley's baseball team picked up a much-needed win on Saturday afternoon and the Lasers did it in dramatic fashion.
Irvine Valley, scored five runs in the bottom of the eighth inning, including the final two runs on back-to-back squeeze bunts, to rally for a 13-11 nonconference victory over Long Beach City at home.
The win snapped a five-game losing skid for the Lasers.
Irvine Valley improved its record to 3-6 on the season, while Long Beach City fell to 3-4.
"It was fun to watch these guys continue to battle today," Irvine Valley coach Kent Madole said.
Irvine Valley trailed, 11-5, after the top of the sixth inning. Long Beach scored two runs in the top of the sixth on a two-run home run by Nolan Flashman.
But the Lasers scored a run in the bottom of the sixth on an RBI double by sophomore shortstop Dallas Porter.
Irvine Valley added another run in the bottom of the seventh to get within 11-7. Freshman right fielder Austin Charrette hit a sacrifice fly that scored sophomore left fielder Matt Harris. Harris had singled, which was his fourth hit of the day, earlier in the inning.
In the bottom of the eighth inning, freshman center fielder Brett Hamilton reached on an error and stole second base. Porter had an infield hit and then stole second to put runners on second and third. A single by sophomore designated hitter Teddy Steffel scored Hamilton and made it an 11-8 game.
After an out, freshman third baseman Adam Vargas came through with an RBI infield single to get IVC within 11-9.
Harris was intentionally walked, which loaded the bases.
Freshman catcher Pedro Gonzalez reached on a fielder's choice, which scored a run and kept the bases loaded.
Then Charrette came through with the squeeze bunt to bring in Vargas and the next batter, sophomore first baseman Brady Zinsser, followed with a squeeze bunt to score Harris and give Irvine Valley a 13-11 lead.
After Long Beach City put runners on first and second base with one out in the top of the ninth inning, freshman right-hander Justin Zielinski entered and got the final two outs of the game for his first save of the year.
Sophomore A.J. Wolfson earned the victory in relief. He went 3 1/3 innings and didn't allow a run. He gave up five hits and a walk with two strikeouts. Wolfson's record improved to 1-0.
Nick Wood took the loss in relief for Long Beach City. He went one inning and gave up two runs (none earned) on one hit and one walk with one strikeout.
IVC finished with 16 hits on the day. Harris was 4 for 4 with three runs scored. Porter went 3 for 4 with a run scored and three RBI, Zinsser was 2 for 5 with three RBI, Gonzalez went 2 for 4 with two RBI and Hamilton was 2 for 4 with two runs scored.
Long Beach City ended up with 17 hits. It had six of those hits as part of a seven-run fourth inning.
Flashman was 5 for 6 with a home run, two runs scored and three RBI. Michael Thomas went 3 for 6 with a run scored and three RBI and Pernell Roberts Jr. was 3 for 5 with three runs scored and one RBI for the Vikings.
It was a rough day for each starting pitcher. IVC sophomore Chris Lumanlan went 3 1/3 innings and allowed eight runs (seven earned) on eight hits and two walks with one strikeout.
Long Beach City's Sean Hale also went 3 1/3 innings. He gave up six runs on 10 hits and one walk.
Irvine Valley plays three games next week. It is at LA Harbor on Tuesday at 2 p.m. and then hosts San Diego City on Thursday and LA Harbor on Friday. Both of those games are at 2 p.m.
