Irvine Valley's baseball team won its rubber game with Fullerton, 3-2, on Friday at home and earned the Orange Empire Conference season series with the Hornets.
The win improved Irvine Valley's record to 13-21 overall and 4-11 in conference. The victory was also IVC's third in its last four games.
With the game tied, 2-2, in the bottom of the eighth inning, freshman second baseman Chase Quezada hit a sacrifice fly to center that scored freshman catcher Aaron Serrato from third base.
Serrato reached earlier in the inning on a single to right field.
Freshman right-handed pitchers Zack Marker and Colin Rhee did the rest for the Lasers.
Marker had his second strong outing in a row, pitching six innings and giving up two runs on four hits and three walks with five strikeouts. He did not earn a decision.
Rhee entered in the seventh inning and threw the final three frames. He didn't allow a run. Rhee gave up one hit and one walk with four strikeouts to pick up the victory.
His record went to 1-1 on the year.
Freshman first baseman Jackson Snitko made a nifty unassisted play at first base on a ground ball to close out the game in the top of the ninth.
Fullerton took a 2-0 lead in the top of the fourth inning, but IVC answered with two runs in the bottom of the inning on RBI singles by Serrato and Quezada.
Irvine Valley ended with nine hits on the afternoon.
Serrato was 3 for 4 with one RBI and two runs and sophomore center fielder Shane Stafford went 3 for 5.
Irvine Valley will be back in action next Tuesday at home when it starts a series with Golden West. Tuesday's game starts at 2 p.m.
