 |
 |
 |
|
|
Baseball team tops Fullerton, remains in first
Mar 25, 2008
Sean Williams hit a solo home run in
the sixth inning to put IVC up for good
against Fullerton on Tuesday
The Irvine Valley baseball team picked up right where it left off in Orange Empire Conference play, defeating Fullerton, 5-3, at Fullerton on Tuesday.
After a week of non-conference games during spring break, the Lasers improved their record to 21-8 overall and 5-1 in conference. It was also the team's sixth straight win, which ties a season high.
The Lasers remained tied atop the conference standings with Orange Coast and Santa Ana, who were both winners on Tuesday.
"It was one of the better wins we've had this season because of the situation," IVC Coach Kent Madole said after the win over Fullerton. "It was a conference game and there was a lot on the line. We got down early at an opponents' yard and were able to fight back."
Fullerton scored three runs in the bottom of the first inning off IVC No. 1 starting pitcher Danny Heben to take a 3-0 lead.
But Heben and relievers Jared Haller and Dean Persinger didn't give up a run after that.
Heben ended up pitching five innings and picked up the win. He gave up three runs on eight hits and five walks and struck out two batters. Heben improved his record to 6-1 on the year.
"I was proud of Danny because he stayed so composed," Madole said. "He had a rough first inning, but he didn't get rattled.
"He just kept battling."
Haller threw three shut out innings and then Persinger shut the door in the ninth to pick up his 10th save of the season. Haller and Persinger combined to give up just a total of three hits in the final four innings.
The Lasers had a few standout performers on offense too.
After IVC tied the game with three runs in the top of the third inning, second baseman Sean Williams gave Irvine Valley its first lead at 4-3 with a solo home run to lead off the sixth inning off Fullerton starting pitcher Josh Naslund.
Catcher Alex Agortsas added an insurance run with a solo home run in the top of the eighth for the Lasers. Agortsas was 2 for 4 with two RBI in the game.
Also for IVC at the plate, shortstop Abel Medina was 2 for 5 with a double and a run scored.
Designated hitter Matt Reyes went 1 for 5 with a double and one RBI and first baseman Connor Rhoads was 2 for 4 with a run scored.
Center fielder Matt Ivanoff was 1 for 3 with a triple and a run scored. He also reached base on a walk and a hit by pitch.
IVC plays at Orange Coast in a battle for first place on Thursday at 2:30 p.m.
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 |