Baseball team sweeps Golden West
Mar 24, 2009
The Irvine Valley baseball team's win streak in the Orange Empire Conference is up to five games after the Lasers defeated Golden West, 10-6, Tuesday afternoon at home.
"We got a gritty performance on the mound from Gary Gerhardt and Jared Haller looked great in relief to close the door," IVC Coach Kent Madole said. "And on offense we really capitalized on some opportunities that were out there for us."
The win, which was the team's third in a row over Golden West, improved the Lasers' record to 13-12 overall and 6-5 in conference.
The victory also moved Irvine Valley into fourth place in the conference standings. The Lasers are a 1/2 game ahead of Saddleback.
Saddleback still needs to complete a game that was called due to darkness with Golden West.
The Lasers are one game behind Cypress (7-4) for third place.
Irvine Valley takes on Cypress on Thursday at home at 2 p.m. and then travels to Cypress on Saturday for a 12 p.m. game.
Cypress beat Santa Ana, 6-5, on Tuesday.
Irvine Valley got down early against Golden West, but the Lasers never gave in.
Golden West scored three runs in the first on a three-run home run by shortstop Chris Devenski off Gerhardt, IVC's starting pitcher. All three were unearned because of an IVC error earlier in the inning.
The Lasers answered with a run in the bottom of the first double by sophomore center fielder Kory Burkhart and a groundout by sophomore designated hitter Alonzo Vasquez.
And IVC put two runs on the board in the bottom of the second inning to tie the game at 3-3 thanks to four consecutive Golden West errors to start the inning.
The Lasers went up for good in the bottom of the fourth inning. Sophomore third baseman Vince Hungerford doubled down the left field line, sophomore second baseman Sean Williams walked and freshman shortstop Anthony Gutierrez reached on an error to load the bases.
Burkhart then doubled to right center to clear the bases. After stealing third base, Burkhart scored on a sacrifice fly by sophomore catcher Corey Thibault.
Golden West scored two runs in the top of the fifth to make it a 7-5 game. Irvine Valley went up, 8-5, with a run in the bottom of the fifth when Gutierrez's single up the middle brought in sophomore right fielder Robbie Robinson. Robinson was hit by a pitch and stole second earlier in the inning.
Golden West again got within two runs at 8-6 with a run in the top of the sixth inning.
But Irvine Valley put the game away with two runs in the bottom of the eighth on three hits, including a two-run single by Robbinson to right center.
Burkhart finished 2 for 5 with two runs scored and a season-high four RBI. Robinson was 1 for 3 with two runs scored and two RBI.
Sophomore first baseman Connor Rhoads also had two hits, going 2 for 5.
Golden West out-hit Irvine Valley, 13-9. But six errors in the field hurt the Rustlers. Golden West pitchers also issued three walks and hit two batters.
Gerhardt got the win to improve to 2-3 on the season. The freshman right-hander went 5 2/3 innings, giving up six runs (two earned) on 10 hits with five strikeouts.
The Lasers got another strong performance from Haller in relief.
The sophomore left-hander picked up his first save of the season, pitching the final three innings.
He didn't allow a hit and struck out two batters.