Irvine Valley's baseball team saw its record slip to 7-7 overall after a 5-1 loss to LA Valley at home on Tuesday.
The Lasers battled, but fell behind, 2-0, through four innings and could never get closer than one run the rest of the game.
Freshman right-handed pitcher Zack Marker went 4.2 innings and gave up two runs (one earned) on four hits and no walks with two strikeouts.
Sophomore righty Cole Deitsch came on in relief and went 2.1 innintgs. He allowed one run (not earned) on one hit and three walks with three strikeouts.
Sophomore Chris Cody and freshman Alex Novak each pitched an inning after that and each gave up one run.
Irvine Valley had trouble getting anything going against LA Valley starting pitcher Daniel Tovar. Tovar improved his record to 3-0 overall, pitching five innings and giving up just one run on three hits and two walks with five strikeouts.
Ryan Higgins earned the save for the Monarchs. He threw 1.1 scoreless with one walk and two strikeouts.
Irvine Valley scored its run in the bottom of the fifth inning when sophomore third baseman Darren Shorter hit an RBI single to left center that scored freshman second baseman Gavin Grutzmacher.
Freshman first baseman Jackson Snitko had two of the Lasers' four hits in the game.
Irvine Valley plays at LA Valley on Thursday at 1 p.m.
