Baseball team wins fourth in a row in conference
Mar 11, 2008
The Irvine Valley baseball team won its fourth straight game to open Orange Empire Conference play, defeating Riverside, 6-4, at Riverside on Tuesday afternoon.
It was Riverside's third straight loss in conference.
"It was another come from behind win for us," IVC Coach Kent Madole said. "It was just good to go in to Riverside and get a victory."
Irvine Valley (15-4, 4-0) was losing, 3-0, heading into the top of the seventh inning and then scored two runs to get within striking distance.
Riverside (17-7, 1-3) nearly added to its lead in the bottom of the seventh inning, but IVC closer Dean Persinger struck out the next batter and then got an inning-ending double play.
The Lasers tied the game at 3-3 on the first pitch of the top of the eighth when freshman first baseman Matt Reyes hit a home run over the center field wall. It was Reyes' first home run of the season. All three runs came off Riverside reliever Sean Urena.
The game remained tied until the top of the 10th inning. That is when IVC pushed across three runs.
The rally started with a leadoff double by freshman Corey Thibault.
Later, after freshman third baseman Vince Hungerford walked to load the bases, freshman second baseman Sean Williams grounded out to bring in a run and give IVC a 4-3 lead.
Sophomore rightfielder Brian Ferrante then reached on an error, which brought in two runs and IVC was up, 6-3.
The Tigers scored a single run in the bottom of the 10th for the final score.
Persinger ended up pitching the final four innings of the contest to earn his second win of the season. He gave up one run on three hits.
IVC sophomore righthander Danny Heben started on the mound and threw six strong innings. He gave up three runs, but two of them were unearned. Heben gave up six hits, two walks and had six strikeouts.
Reyes led the Lasers at the plate, going 2 for 3 with the home run. Sophomore shortstop Abel Medina was 2 for 4 for IVC.
Irvine Valley plays again on Thursday, hosting Santa Ana at 2 p.m. in a conference game.