Freshman pitcher Matt Reyes picked the perfect time to throw his best game of the season.
The right-hander threw eight hitless innings in helping lead the Lasers to a 5-2 victory over Santa Ana in an important Orange Empire Conference game at IVC on Thursday.
The win kept Irvine Valley tied for second place in the conference standings with Orange Coast (a winner over Cypress on Thursday).
IVC improved its record to 27-13 on the season, which ties the program record for most wins (the 2004 team finished with 27 victories). The Lasers are 11-6 in conference. The 11 wins is a school record for most victories in conference.
"It was a big win for all of those reasons," IVC Coach Kent Madole said. "It set some records for us and was a win over the best team in the state right now. I couldn't be prouder of the guys. It is definitely the type of game that this team is capable of."
Santa Ana, the first-place team in conference and top-ranked team in the state, slipped to 30-9 overall and 15-2 in conference.
Santa Ana took a 1-0 lead in the first inning on a two-run home run by Kyle Hardman.
But Reyes shut down the Dons the rest of the way. After giving up three hits in the first inning, the former Foothill High standout didn't allow a hit from there on out.
The complete game win improved Reyes' record to 6-2 on the year.
Santa Ana led, 2-1, heading into the seventh, but the Lasers scored four runs in the bottom half of the inning - all of them coming on home runs.
Designated hitter Corey Thibault hit a solo home run off of Santa Ana starting pitcher Kyle Mertins to tie the game, 2-2.
And then after Mertins walked back-to-back IVC batters, Laser right fielder Brian Ferrante hit a 1-2 offering over the left field fence.
Mertins, a recent signee with Cal State Fullerton, ended up taking the loss. His record dropped to 7-2 on the year. He threw 6 2/3 innings, giving up seven hits and five runs (all earned). Mertins walked five batters and struck out one.
Reyes finished up the game, retiring Santa Ana's second, third and fourth hitters in the lineup in the top of the ninth.
He struck out Hardman to end things.
Overall, Reyes gave up three hits and two runs. He struck out six and walked one batter.
"What a performance," Madole said. "Matt was incredible. It is a game that he will remember for a long time."
Center fielder Matt Ivanoff went 3 for 3 with a run scored, Thibault was 2 for 4 with the home run and one RBI and Ferrante was 1 for 3 with the home run and three RBI to lead the Laser offense.
Irvine Valley hosts Fullerton on Saturday in a conference game at 12 p.m.