Photo/Art by @JPWest Media
Irvine Valley's baseball team won in extra innings, 4-3, at Riverside to capture its third victory in lthe last four games Tuesday afternoon.
The Lasers scored a run in the top of the 11th inning on an RBI single by freshman left fielder Brandon Abernathy to take the lead for good.
IVC held a 3-1 lead going into the bottom of the eighth inning, but RCC scored a single run in both the eighth and ninth innings to tie the score at 3-3 and set up more baseball.
In the top of the 11th, freshman designated hitter Cole Lefebvre singled up the middle and was moved to second base on a sacrifice bunt by freshman shortstop Andres Hernandez.
And then Abernathy came through with the clutch hit to left field to bring in Lefebvre for the go-ahead run.
Sophomore right-hander Zack Marker closed out the bottom of the 11th inning to give IVC the win.
Irvine Valley's record moved to 16-19 overall and 3-13 in Orange Empire Conference play, while Riverside went to 23-12 overall and 10-6 in the OEC.
The Lasers took a 2-0 lead thanks to an RBI single by sophomore first baseman Jackson Snitko and an error by Riverside in the top of the third inning.
And Irvine Valley was up, 3-0, in the sixth inning on an RBI fielder's choice by Hernandez.
Riverside pulled a run back in the bottom of the seventh inning and then rallied for single runs in both the bottom of the eighth and ninth to tie the score.
But Abernathy and IVC came through in the 11th.
For Irvine Valley, sophomore catcher Aaron Serrato and Lefebvre each finished with two hits and Snitko, Hernandez and Abernathy each knocked in runs.
IVC finished with 10 hits on the day.
Sophomore right-hander Tyler Eastham went a solid 6.2 innings on the mound to give IVC a great start to the game. He allowed just one run on six hits and three walks with two strikeouts.
And Marker picked up the win. He finished, going 4.1 innings, giving up two runs (one earned) on two hits with four strikeouts.
Marker's record went to 2-4 overall.
Irvine Valley hosts Riverside on Thursday in the second game of the series at 2 p.m.
