Irvine Valley's baseball team improved to 2-0 in the Orange Empire Conference with a 6-3 win over defending state champion Cypress on Monday at home.
The game was a make-up from one that was rained out on Saturday.
IVC opened its conference schedule with a 4-3 victory over Saddleback last Thursday at home.
"They are wins against two very good teams, two very good offensive teams," Irvine Valley Coach Kent Madole said.
Madole was pleased with the way his team "closed out" Monday's win over Cypress.
Last Thursday, Irvine Valley gave up three runs in the top of the ninth before scoring the winning run in the bottom of the inning against Saddleback.
Irvine Valley didn't give up a run after the second inning on Monday.
Sophomore pitcher Jesus Meza earned his first win of the season. Meza went 6 1/3 innings and gave up three runs (two earned) on four hits and two walks.
Sophomore Chris Lumanlan (who started last Thursday's win over Saddleback) then threw 1 2/3 innings of scoreless relief and sophomore A.J. Wolfson threw a scoreless and hitless ninth for his first save of the season.
Irvine Valley scored three runs in the bottom of the first inning to get out in front.
Freshman center fielder Brett Hamilton singled to right field to lead off. Sophomore first baseman Brady Zinsser was then hit by a pitch by Cypress starting pitcher Ryan Hartman.
Sophomore left fielder Matt Harris laid down a bunt to sacrifice the runners, but Hartman threw wild to first base and Hamilton was able to score.
With two outs later in the inning, freshman third baseman Adam Vargas laced a single into left that scored two runs.
Cypress scored its runs in the top of the second.
With two outs and the bases loaded, Matt Tietz singled down the left field line. The hit brought in two runs and when Harris misplayed the ball in left field, the third runner came in to score and make it a 3-3 game.
But Irvine Valley took the lead for good in the bottom of the fourth.
Sophomore shortstop Dallas Porter started with a bunt single. Vargas then followed with a single. After an out, freshman right fielder Austin Charrette walked to load the bases.
A batter later, Hamilton came through with a two-out, three-run double into left center. It made it a 6-3 game.
IVC's pitching and defense did the rest after that.
Freshman J'Anthony Sanchez (second base) and Hamilton (center field) were both solid in the field and Harris made a running catch in left later in the contest.
Hamilton and Vargas each finished with three hits. Hamilton was 3 for 4 with three RBI, while Vargas went 3 for 4 with two RBI.
Irvine Valley improved its record to 6-8 overall and 2-0 in conference, while Cypress fell to 10-5 overall and 1-1 in conference.
Cypress was paced by Tietz, who went 1 for 5 with two RBI. The Chargers had five hits in the game.
Hartman took the loss. His record dropped to 1-2 on the season after going 3 1/3 innings and giving up six runs (three earned) on five hits with one walk and six strikeouts.
Irvine Valley plays again on Tuesday against Orange Coast.
The game was originally scheduled as a road contest for Irvine Valley, but the game has been moved to IVC at 2 p.m. because OCC's field is still unplayable after last weekend's rain.
