Irvine Valley's baseball team won the first two games against Orange Coast, but couldn't get the third.
IVC was denied a sweep by Pirate starting pitcher Steven Corona.
Corona, making just his second appearance and first start of the season, threw eight shutout innings to help Orange Coast to a 2-0 Orange Empire Conference win at Irvine Valley on Tuesday.
With the loss, Irvine Valley's record dropped to 17-15 overall and 7-10 in conference. The Lasers fell into a tie for sixth place in the conference standings with Riverside. The Lasers are a game behind Saddleback for fifth place. IVC plays Saddleback in the next two contests.
Orange Coast improved its record to 20-12 overall and 11-6 in conference. The Pirates are a game behind Cypress for first place.
Corona, who gave up eight hits with no walks and three strikeouts, earned his first win of the year.
Dominic Purpura pitched a perfect ninth to pick up his seventh save of the season for OCC.
Irvine Valley freshman left-hander Ryan Abady pitched well enough to win, going 8.1 innings and allowing two runs (one earned) on seven hits and four walks with two strikeouts.
But he took the loss to drop his record to 6-3 on the season.
Orange Coast scored single runs in the third and sixth innings.
Robert Longtree hit a double to left center that scored Jeff Nellis from first base in the third inning.
Tommy Bell, who walked to lead off the sixth, later scored on an IVC error with two outs.
IVC freshman left fielder Clint Jack reached third base with two outs in the bottom of the third, but the Lasers couldn't cash him in.
Irvine Valley also got back-back singles from freshman shortstop Jordan Gillerman and freshman second baseman Cory Mendoza with one out in the bottom of the seventh inning, but they were left there.
Jack went 2 for 4 and freshman designated hitter Trey Ryan, freshman first baseman Lucas Tancas, freshman center fielder Dillon Millar, sophomore third baseman Adam Vargas, Gillerman and Mendoza each had a hit in the contest for IVC.
Bell and Nellis were each 2 for 3 and Longtree went 1 for 3 with a walk, a sacrifice and one RBI for Orange Coast.
Irvine Valley hosts Saddleback in a key conference game on Thursday at 2 p.m.
