After battling back to beat Chaffey, 5-3, on the road on Tuesday, with clutch hits from sophomore second baseman Nolan Cusey and freshman right fielder Blake Beckley, the Lasers did it again on Wednesday against the Panthers.
Freshman third baseman Kevin James blasted a solo home run on the first pitch of the bottom of the 12th inning to give Irvine Valley a 6-5 victory over Chaffey at home.
It was James' sixth home run of the season. He also hit a home run in the win at Chaffey Tuesday and has now homered in four-straight games.
The win gave Irvine Valley its fourth win in the last five games. IVC moved its record to 8-5 overall. Chaffey's record slipped to 5-9 overall.
Chaffey scored four runs in the top of the first inning, but the Lasers rallied with two runs in the bottom of the second, two more in the third and a single run in the fourth to take a 5-4 lead.
It stayed that way until Chaffey pushed across a run in the top of the seventh inning on a sacrifice fly by Jacob Billings to knot the score.
Irvine Valley had chances to end things in the bottom of the ninth and 10th innings, but James took care of it in the 12th.
IVC finished with 10 hits on the day. James went 2 for 4 with three runs, the home run, two walks and one RBI.
He improved his batting average on the season to .367 and his slugging percentage to .755.
Sophomore designated hitter Adrian Reveles went 2 for 3 with a run scored, a walk and one RBI and sophomore first baseman Casey Kudell had a hit and two RBI for the Lasers.
On the mound, sophomore right-hander Austin Chapman started and pitched six innings. He gave up four runs (two earned) on four hits and one walk with four strikeouts.
Sophomore righty Ryan Barlow was big for the Lasers, pitching the final six innings and earnin his second win of the season. Barlow gave up five hits and one run (unearned) on five hits with three strikeouts.
Barlow threw just 64 pitches in those six innings of work.
Irvine Valley will be back in action on Sunday with a doubleheader at home. The Lasers will take on Grossmont in seven inning games at 11 a.m. and then approximately 2 p.m.
IVC was scheduled to play at Grossmont Friday and then at home Saturday, but due to the weather the games will take place as a doubleheader Sunday at home.
