Irvine Valley's baseball team traveled to NCAA Division I Cal State Fullerton's Goodwin Field for a home game on Tuesday.
The Lasers played a team from right down the street, Fullerton College, and earned a hard-fought, 2-1 victory in Orange Empire Conference action.
Irvine Valley's pitching and defense was the difference in the win, which improved the squad's record to 13-8 overall and 2-2 in the OEC.
Fullerton fell to 14-9 overall and 2-2 in conference.
Irvine Valley ended up with six double plays on the day, including two strike out, throw outs on attempted steals. IVC freshman catcher Connor Tallakson threw the two Hornet runners out.
The game was scoreless until the bottom of the seventh inning when IVC put two on the board.
Freshman shortstop Nick Madole put down a perfect squeeze bunt with one out to bring in sophomore center fielder Joey Lapolla from third base.
Freshman left fielder Jack Haggerty then reached on a Fullerton error. The play scored freshman second baseman Nolan Cusey and gave Irvine Valley a 2-0 lead.
In the top of the ninth inning, Garet Crenshaw hit a solo home run to right field. The Hornets put a runner on base, but the Lasers closed out the game with their sixth and final double play.
Freshman right-hander Jeremy Wiegman, who has signed with D1 Campbell University, started on the mound and went six innings. He didn't allow a run, giving up three hits and five walks with six strikeouts.
Freshman righty Austin Chapman relieved Wiegman and picked up the win. He improved his record to 4-0 on the season.
Chapman pitched three innings, giving up one run on four hits and one walk with one strikeout.
Fullerton's Joel Martinez took the loss. He pitched well, but went to 1-2 on the year. He threw seven innings and gave up two runs (one earned) on seven hits with zero walks and seven strikeouts.
At the plate, each team finished with seven hits. Cusey was 2 for 3 with a run scored for IVC.
Irvine Valley and Fullerton meet again on Thursday at Fullerton College's field at 2 p.m.
Photo gallery from Tuesday's game here
