Irvine Valley's baseball team had its chances to knock off one of the top teams in the state on Thursday.
The Lasers took a 4-3 into the bottom of the eighth inning at Saddleback only to see the Bobcats score a run and then another run in the bottom of the to walk off with a 5-4 victory.
Irvine Valley's record slipped to 10-26 overall and 0-17 in the Orange Empire Conference. Saddleback improved to 26-9 overall and 12-5 in conference.
IVC scored two runs in the top of the eighth inning. One came on a Saddleback error and then freshman third baseman Kevin James knocked in a run with a single.
The two runs were part of four straight for the Lasers after Saddleback took a 3-0 lead early in the game.
Saddleback tied the game in the bottom of the eighth on a RBI groundout by Isaiah Morales and won it in the ninth on a RBI single by Michael Davinni.
Freshman right-hander Cole Dietsch (1-2) took the loss giving up one run on two walks with one strikeout in two-thirds of an inning pitched.
Sophomore Austin Chapman started on the mound for the Lasers and went five innings, allowing three runs on 11 hits and one walk.
James went 2 for 3 with one run, one stolen base and two RBI, sophomore second baseman Nolan Cusey and sophomore designated hitter Noah Madole were each 2 for 4 for IVC.
Irvine Valley will finish the series with Saddleback on Saturday at home at noon.
