Irvine Valley's baseball team rallied in the bottom of the ninth inning, but it wasn't enough in a 6-5 Orange Empire Conference loss to Golden West in the first game of the final OEC series of the regular season at the OC Great Park Stadium.
The Lasers (16-22, 4-15) were behind, 3-1, after the fifth inning, but tied the score in the bottom of the eighth with a RBI single by freshman designated hitter Adrian Reveles and then a fielder's choice RBI by freshman first baseman Casey Kudell.
Golden West scored three runs in the top of the ninth inning and that was the difference.
Irvine Valley took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the fourth inning, but Golden West went ahead in the top of the fifth inning on a three-run, bases clearing double by Adam Arroyo.
The Lasers tied the game at 3 in the bottom of the eighth on a RBI single by designated hitter Adrian Reveles and then a fielder's choice RBI by freshman first baseman Casey Kudell.
But Golden West took the lead for good in the top of the ninth inning with three runs. Jonah Sebring and Zech Samayoa each had run-scoring hits in the frame.
Irvine Valley tried to rally in the bottom of the inning, scoring two runs on a two-RBI line drive down the right field line by freshman left fielder Jack Haggerty, wihich scored freshman rigth fielder Bradley Wilkison and freshman second baseman Nolan Cusey.
But it wasn't enough as Golden West's Luke Higgins closed out the game and picked up his first win of the season.
Freshman right-hander Sammy Murphy (4-8) took the loss for Irvine Valley on the mound. He went one inning and gave up three runs (two earned) on three hits and one hit batter.
Freshman righty Jeremy Wiegman started on the mound and went 4.2 innings with, giving up three runs on six hits with two walks and five stikeouts.
Freshman right-hander Austin Chapman pitched 3.1 solid, scoreless innings for the Lasers and struck out three.
Sebring went 3 for 5 with with a double, three RBI and a run scored.
For Irvine Valley, Cudell went 2 for 4 with one RBI, Reveles was 2 for 5 with one RBI and Haggerty went 1 for 4 with a double and two RBI.
