The Irvine Valley baseball team was looking good early on in its Orange Empire Conference series opener at Orange Coast on Tuesday afternoon.
The Lasers held a 7-1 lead through the top of the fourth inning.
But then Orange Coast sent 14 batters to the plate and scored nine runs on its way to a 11-9 win over IVC.
It was Orange Coast's seventh win in a row and improved its record to 21-10 overall and 7-6 in conference. Irvine Valley fell to 10-22 overall and 0-13 in conference.
Sophomore first baseman Casey Kudell had a two-run single and sophomore second baseman Nolan Cusey followed with a RBI single in the top of the second inning to put Irvine Valley ahead, 3-0.
The Lasers added two runs in the top of the third and two more in the top of the fourth to take a 7-1 lead. Freshman center fielder Shane Stafford hit a solo home run in the third inning. It was his sixth homer of the season.
IVC scored its two runs in the fourth on a Pirate error.
But Orange Coast took the lead for good in the bottom of the fourth inning. The Pirates scored their nine runs on nine hits and two hit batters. They knocked out two Irvine Valley pitchers.
After the fourth, OCC led, 10-7. Orange Coast made it an 11-7 game on a Zach Crandall solo home run.
Irvine Valley got back on the board in the top of the sixth with two runs to get within two.
Freshman shortstop Darren Shorter had a RBI double and sophomore third baseman Nick Madole knocked in a run with a groundout.
But the Lasers couldn't get any closer. They put two runners on base with two outs in the top of the ninth inning, but the game ended with a strikeout.
Kudell ended with three RBI and sophomore left fielder Drew Porter and Stafford each finished with two hits for the Lasers.
Freshman reliever Wyatt Zadoorian took the loss, giving up three runs on five hits in a third of an inning.
Sophomore righty Ryan Barlow started the game and went 3.1 innings. He allowed seven runs on eight hits with one strikeout.
OCC was led at the plate by Zach Dickason. He went 5 for 5 with three runs scored.
The two teams play again on Thursday at Irvine Valley at 2 p.m.
