Irvine Valley's baseball team battled back from an early deficit to take the lead, but couldn't hold on in a 8-7 loss to Mt. San Antonio on Saturday afternoon at home.
The loss dropped Irvine Valley's record to 3-3 overall, while Mt. SAC improved to 3-4 overall.
Mt. SAC led, 4-1, after four innings, but Irvine Valley chipped away.
The Lasers scored two runs in the bottom of the fifth inning on a sacrifice fly by freshman first baseman Tyler Wagner and a RBI single up the middle by freshman designated hitter Jarrett Anton to get within 4-3.
And Irvine Valley tied the game at 4-4 in the bottom of the sixth inning on a RBI double by freshman third baseman Adam Rossit.
Each team scored two runs in the seventh inning with IVC getting its runs thanks to a Mt. SAC throwing error and a RBI single by sophomore shortstop Jordan Gillerman.
Tied at 6-6, Irvine Valley picked up the go-ahead run in the bottom of the eighth inning. A sacrifice bunt by Anton to the right side brought in Rossit from third base.
But IVC couldn't hold the lead in the top of the ninth.
The first two Mountie batters of the inning walked and then later, Kory Brown hit an RBI single through the right side to score Nathaniel Alam and tie the score at 7-7.
Mt. SAC took the lead for good in the top of the 10th inning when Esteban Ortega hit a solo home run over the left field fence.
Irvine Valley couldn't answer in the bottom of the 10th.
Sophomore Cole Millerd took the loss on the mound for IVC. He went two innings and gave up two hits and one run with three strikeouts.
Freshman Adam Lamar started for IVC and went 6.2 innings, giving up six runs (four earned) on 10 hits with one strikeout.
Andrew Jimenez pitched a scoreless inning of relief. Freshman Austin Reynolds was charged with a run in the top of the eighth.
Irvine Valley finished with 13 hits. Sophomore catcher Branden Williams continued his hot hitting, going 3 for 6. Sophomore center fielder Dillon Millar was 3 for 5, Wagner went 2 for 4 with one RBI, freshman right fielder Weston Ellis was 2 for 3 and Rossit went 1 for 3 with two walks, two runs scored and one RBI.
Brown and Ortega were each 3 for 5 with three RBI and Matthew Majher went 3 for 4 with one RBI for Mt. SAC.
Nicholas Muratalla picked up the win, throwing two innings of scoreless relief.
Irvine Valley plays again on Tuesday, traveling to El Camino-Compton.
