The Irvine Valley baseball team and Golden West might be fourth and sixth, respectively, in the standings in the Orange Empire Conference.
But after slow starts for each club, the squads are two of the hottest in the OEC.
IVC had won nine of its last 12 games and GWC had captured seven of eight games going into Tuesday's four-game series opener at Golden West.
The Lasers went up early, but saw Golden West rally and then hold on in the ninth for a 8-6 victory.
Golden West won its eighth game in its last nine contests and improved its record to 9-12 overall and 4-9 in conference.
Irvine Valley moved to 9-10-2 overall and 8-8 in the OEC.
The two teams play again on Thursday at Golden West at 2 p.m.
After four scoreless innings, the Lasers scored four runs in the top of the fifth inning.
Sophomore left fielder Dante Faicchio hit a two-run double, sophomore second baseman Eric Burckle followed with a sacrifice fly and then freshman shortstop Shane Kary had an RBI single for the Lasers.
Golden West answered with two runs in the bottom of the fifth to make it a 4-2 game.
IVC got another RBI hit from Faicchio - a single in the top of the sixth to put Irvine Valley ahead, 5-2.
But Golden West took the lead for good in the bottom of the sixth with five runs.
A wild pitch scored one of the runs, the Rustlers got RBI hits from Gunnar Magrann and Miles Jenkins and then an Irvine Valley error led to the final two runs to give Golden West a 7-5 lead.
Irvine Valley kept fighting and later had its chance in the top of the ninth, loading the bases with two outs.
With two outs, sophomore first baseman Hank Schineller was hit by a pitch, freshman catcher Miguel Rodriguez then singled and freshman center fielder Bradley Wilkison singled to load the bases.
But Golden West reliever Jackson Lapiner was able to get IVC freshman designated hitter Jack Haggerty to ground out to first to end the game.
Freshman right-handed pitcher Jeremy Wiegman took the loss for the Lasers. He went 5.2 innings and gave up six runs (five earned) on eight hits and one walk with four strikeouts. Wiegman's record slipped to 1-2 overall.
Irvine Valley had 13 hits in the game. Faicchio was 2 for 4 with a triple, walk and three RBI and freshman third baseman Ethan Johannes went 2 for 5 with a double and one RBI.
Rodriguez, Wilkison and Kary also had two hits each. Wilkison added two walks, two runs scored and a sacrifice bunt.
Jenkins went 3 for 4 with one RBI and Logan Gallina was 2 for 4 with three RBI for Golden West.
