Irvine Valley's baseball team tried to rally late, but ran out of time in a 8-5 loss to Santa Ana in the Orange Empire Conference opener for both teams on Tuesday at IVC.
Santa Ana charged out to a 8-0 lead after four innings, including looking like it broke the contest open with a five-run top of the fourth.
The big blow was a two-run double to left center by Copper Hansen that gave Santa Ana a 7-0 advantage. Hansen then scored soon after on a wild pitch increase the Dons' lead to 8-0
But the Lasers never gave in and fought back with five runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to make it a game.
Sophomore third baseman Dante Faicchio's RBI single to center put Irvine Valley on the board.
Sophomore first baseman Hank Schineller followed with a two-run double to pull IVC within 8-3.
Sophomore pinch-hitter Dane Nakatsuka hit into a fielder's choice that brought in another run and then freshman right fielder Bradley Wilkison hit a RBI single up the middle to 8-5.
Irvine Valley had a chance for more with two runners on base, but Santa Ana reliever Kyle Hoskins was able to get a pop up with two outs to end the inning.
And Hoskins was able to retire the IVC side in order in the bottom of the ninth.
Josh Haley took the win for Santa Ana and improved to 5-0. He pitched seven scoreless inning, giving up seven hits and one walk with five strikeouts.
Irvine Valley freshman right-hander Connor Neves suffered the loss. He went three innings and gave up three runs (one earned) on four hits and three walks with four strikeouts.
Freshman Joshua Ribera followed and went four innings, giving up five runs on seven hits and three walks with five strikeouts. Freshman Skylar Manning pitched two scoreless innings to wrap up for Irvine Valley. He didn't allow a hit. Manning had two walks and one strikeout.
Each side finished with 11 hits
For IVC, Faicchio was 3 for 4 with a walk and one RBI, Schineller went 2 for 4 with a double and two RBI, Dorado was 2 for 3 with a double and Haw went 2 for 4.
Hansen led Santa Ana, going 3 for 5 with two doubles and two RBI and Micah Pietila-Wiggs was 2 for 5 with two RBI.
The two teams play again on Thursday at 2 p.m. at Santa Ana in the second game of the three-game series.
