Saddleback scored two late runs on a home run and defeated the Irvine Valley baseball team, 4-2, in an Orange Empire Conference game on Tuesday at Saddleback.
The Gauchos (14-3, 4-1) have captured the first two games of the three-game series between the schools.
Irvine Valley (8-10, 1-4) hosts Saddleback in the finale on Thursday at 2 p.m.
Both teams scored in the second inning on Tuesday as Irvine Valley pushed two runs across on a double by freshman third baseman Austin Reynolds, a single by freshman second baseman Adam Rossit, a throwing error by Saddleback on what looked like a double-play ball, then a bases-loaded walk to sophomore leftfielder Clint Jack.
Saddleback added one run in the bottom of the inning as Robbie Biehl singled into the hole at shortstop then stole second and advanced to third when the throw from home ended up in center field. He scored on a sacrifice fly by Andrew Wilson.
The score remained 2-1 until the seventh inning.
Saddleback scored an unearned run in the seventh inning.
The Gauchos took the lead for good in the bottom of the eighth when Ryan Fitzpatrick hit a two-run, two-out homerun to left field.
Irvine Valley sophomore starting pitcher Cole Millerd struck out six and walked two but didn't factor into the decision. He went 6.1 innings and allowed two runs (none earned) on four hits and two walks.
Freshman Jason McLellan took the loss, giving up two runs on two hits and two walks in 1.2 innings.
Jordan Scheftz (1-0) earned the win on the mound for Saddleback after he came into the game in the seventh inning in relief of Domnique Key. Closer Daniel Endsley pitched the ninth inning for his first save of the season.
Each team ended up with six hits. Reynolds had two hits for the Lasers while Fitzpatrick ended up with two hits for the Gauchos.
