Baseball team loses, 12-9, at Fullerton
Apr 29, 2008
The Irvine Valley baseball team fell a game behind Orange Coast for second place in the Orange Empire Conference standings with a 12-9 loss to Fullerton on Tuesday at Fullerton.
The Lasers dug themselves into a hole early, falling behind, 9-2, after four innings. IVC trailed, 12-5, after Fullerton scored three runs in the bottom of the sixth innning.
Irvine Valley (28-14, 12-7) tried to rally late with two runs in the top of the seventh and two more in the top of the eighth, but it wasn't enough.
Fullerton closer Daniel Reyes entered in the bottom of the eighth and got out of a jam and then pitched a scoreless ninth to earn the save.
Sophomore starting pitcher Danny Heben took the loss for IVC. His record slipped to 8-2 on the season. Heben went just 1 2/3 innings, giving up six runs (one earned) on five hits with a walk and a strikeout.
Fullerton scored six runs off Heben in the second inning, but just one earned after an error by IVC kept the inning alive.
IVC's next two pitchers didn't have much more success. Doug Tew went 2 1/3 innings and gave up three runs and Paul Sandoval went 1 2/3 innings and allowed three runs.
Kelby Aase got the win for Fullerton, throwing 5 innings. He gave up five runs on eight hits with four walks and five strikeouts.
For IVC, sophomore center fielder Matt Ivanoff was 3 for 6 with two runs scored and two RBI. Sophomore right fielder Brian Ferrante went 3 for 4 with two RBI, freshman designated hitter Corey Thibault was 1 for 4 with two RBI, freshman second baseman Sean Williams went 3 for 5 and freshman left fielder Jeff Montenegro was 2 for 3.
IVC out-hit Fullerton in the game, 15-14.
Irvine Valley finishes out the regular season with two games against Orange Coast this week. Thursday's game is at Irvine Valley and Friday's game is at Orange Coast.
Both games have been moved from 2:30 p.m. starts to 2 p.m. first pitch starts each day.