Irvine Valley's baseball team rallied with four runs in the bottom of the eighth inning, including getting two on a squeeze play, to come back for a thrilling 7-6 win over Moorpark in its 2016 opening game.
Irvine Valley trailed most of the way, trailing, 2-1, after the second inning, 4-2, after the fourth and, 6-3, heading into the eighth inning. Errors didn't help with IVC making four on the day.
But in the bottom of the eighth inning, sophomore catcher Branden Williams hit an RBI single to score freshman designated hitter Jarrett Anton and get IVC started.
Freshman Adam Rossit came up to pinch hit with runners on first and third and he smashed a double over the center fielder's head to bring in sophomore shortstop Jordan Gillerman and make it a 6-5 game.
With runners on second and third and still no outs, freshman pinch-hitter Alec Ceniceros laid down a perfect squeeze bunt to the left side, Williams scored on the play from third to tie the score and Rossit never hesitated as he rounded third and, with a nifty slide, avoided the tag at home for the go-ahead run.
Freshman right-hander Austin Reynolds pitched a perfect ninth inning to earn the victory. Reynolds went two innings overall in relief and gave up no runs, just one hit and had two strikeouts.
Sophomore right-hander and returning all-conference pitcher Ryan Abady started on the mound for IVC in the game. He went six innings and gave four runs (two earned) on seven hits with a walk and three strikeouts.
Bryan Marberry took the loss in relief for Moorpark. He didn't record an out in the eighth inning and gave up two runs on two hits.
Moorpark starting pitcher Trevor Weston was solid. He went seven innings and gave up three runs (two earned) on eight hits and two walks with one strikeout.
Irvine Valley finished with 11 hits on the afternoon.
Gillerman went 3 for 4, sophomore leftfielder Clint Jack was 2 for 4 with a walk and three runs scored. Freshman second baseman Tyler Odekirk went 2 for 4 with one RBI and Williams was 2 for 4 with one RBI. Sophomore center fielder Dillon Millar also drove in a run for IVC, which plays again on Thursday at home against West LA at 2 p.m.
Moorpark's record slipped to 1-2 on the year. The Raiders got two hits apiece from Terrell Terrell, Riley Conlan, Zak Daniels and Austin Fields in the defeat. Daniels also had two RBI.
