Irvine Valley's baseball team couldn't get anything going against Saddleback starting pitcher Trey Ferketic Tuesday afternoon in an Orange Empire Conference game at Saddleback.
Ferketic pitched seven scoreless innings, allowing just one hit as Saddleback defeated Irvine Valley, 6-0.
Irvine Valley's record fell to 6-14 overall and 2-6 in conference. Saddleback improved to 13-7 overall and 5-3 in conference.
Ferketic struck out five, walked three, and hit two batters.
The only hit Ferketic allowed was a single to right field in the fifth inning by IVC freshman center fielder Brett Hamilton after walking two batters with two outs. The single loaded the bases, but Ferketic got Irine Valley sophomore shortstop Dallas Porter to ground out to the mound to halt the rally.
Saddleback's offense posted two runs in the first inning off of Irvine Valley sophomore starting pitcher Jesus Meza and it proved to be enough offense on the afternoon.
Dylan Diaz led off the bottom half of the inning with a double down the right field line and advanced to third when Louie Payetta was walked and the fourth ball went to the backstop.
Mitchell Holland was hit by a pitch before Brett Barker drove in the winning run in the first inning with a ground out to first base. Payetta also scored in the inning on another wild pitch.
Saddleback catcher Casey Worden added an RBI-single in the third inning and then the Gauchos tossed in three more runs in the sixth inning.
Saddlebck collected 11 hits in the game, including three by Hunter Cullen. The Gauchos benefitted from seven walks and four hit batters, but stranded 15 runners on base.
Jacob Worrell pitched the eighth inning and Logan Escudero pitched the ninth inning to close out the game for the Gauchos.
IVC finished with just two hits in the contest. Freshman pinch-hitter Joe Gomez also had a hit for the Lasers.
Meza went 2 1/3 innings, giving up three runs on three hits. He hit two batters, walked two and had one strikeout.
Freshman Brett DaRe' went the next 3 2/3 innings and allowed three runs on six hits and three walks.
Freshman Justin Zielinski and sophomore Jeremy Ibarra each threw a scoreless inning to close out the game.
Saddleback's victory split the season series at one win apiece for the two clubs. The teams will play the decider on Thursday at IVC at 2 p.m.
