Irvine Valley's baseball team gave up six runs in the first two innings to Saddleback and the Gauchos went on to a 12-1 win over the Lasers on Thursday at home.
Saddleback swept the three-game Orange Empire Conference series with Irvine Valley and improved its record to 15-3 overall and 5-1 in conference.
Irvine Valleys saw its record slip to 8-11 overall and 1-5 in conference.
Saddleback scored four runs in the top of the first inning on three walks, a RBI single by Brandon Heinrich, a RBI groundout by Dallas Dey and a two-run single up the middle by Ryan Fitzpatrick.
And the Gauchos added two runs in the top of the second on an RBI double by Kent Burckle and a RBI single by Jared Donahoe.
Saddleback made it a 10-0 game with a four-run top of the sixth inning.
Burckle had an RBI single, Donahoe hit a two-run triple to left center and Heinrich singled up the middle to bring in the final run of the inning.
Irvine Valley got on the board in the bottom of the sixth inning. Sophomore shortstop Jordan Gillerman's sacrifice fly brought in sophomore catcher Branden Williams from third base.
Saddleback scored its final two runs in the top of the eighth inning.
The Gauchos finished with 15 hits on the day. Burckle was 2 for 3 with a walk, three runs scored and two RBI. Donahoe went 2 for 3 with a walk, two runs scored and three RBI and Heinrich was 3 for 5 with a walk, two runs scored and two RBI.
Jackson Rees earned the win on the mound to go to 3-1. He went five innings and gave up one run on four hits and two walks with four strikeouts.
Logan Escudero, Stephen Young, Cameron Aufderheide and Eric Neeley each pitched a scoreless inning of relief for Saddleback.
Irvine Valley managed four hits on the day. Freshman right fielder Weston Ellis wnet 2 for 3 and Sophomore left fielder Clint Jack and Williams each had a hit.
Sophomore Kyle Goodbrand took the loss for IVC. He went 1.1 innings and gave up six runs on four hits and three walks with one strikeout.
Freshman Adam Lamar followed and went 4.0 innings, allowing four runs on six hits and one walk.
Irvine Valley takes a break from conference action next week. It plays at LA Harbor on Tuesday and then hosts LA Harbor on Thursday.
