The Irvine Valley baseball team picked up a big-time win on Thursday with a 16-13 Orange Empire Conerence victory over Saddleback at the OC Great Park Stadium.
And it could have been two in a row in the series for IVC. The Lasers were right there on Tuesday, just three outs away from a win before Saddleback rallied for a 5-4 victory.
Irvine Valley held on Thursday in a wild game.
Both teams each had a huge inning.
Irvine Valley took a 7-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning with seven runs only to see Saddleback answer with eight runs in the top of the third inning.
The difference for the Lasers was a four-run, bottom of the sixth inning to put them ahead, 13-9.
In that important sixth inning, after Saddleback had tied the score at 9, IVC scored a run on an error, sophomore right fielder Dane Nakatsuka had an RBI bunt single and freshman third baseman Ethan Johannes capped the scoring with a two-run single through the left side.
IVC tacked on two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning on an RBI single by sophomore left fielder Dante Faicchio and a RBI double by freshman shortstop Shane Kary.
The Lasers led, 16-10, going into the bottom of the ninth inning only to see Saddleback score three runs (two of them on a deep home run by David Le Bioda). Saddleback also had the tying run come up to the plate, but freshman lefty reliever Seth Bougher got Lance Gardiner to ground out to end the game.
Freshman right-hander Dallas Carpenter picked up his second win in two games in relief for IVC. He improved to 2-0 after pithing 4.2 innings and giving up two runs on seven hits and one walk with six strikeouts.
Andrew Hayes took the loss for Saddleback. He pitched one inning in relief and gave up two runs (one earned) on no hits and one walk.
At the plate for Irvine Valley, Johannes led the way. He went 4 for 5 with three runs scored and two RBI. Johannes was one of four IVC players with at least two hits.
Kary went 2 for 4 with two runs and three RBI, freshman second baseman Eric Burckle went 2 for 5 with a walk, three runs and two RBI and Faicchio was 2 for 6 with two runs and two RBI.
The two teams meet again on Friday in a doubleheader at Saddleback. The first game starts at noon. No spectators are allowed.
