Baseball team rallies for huge victory
Apr 02, 2009
The Irvine Valley baseball team recorded one of the most exciting victories in program history Thursday afternoon at home, rallying for six runs in the bottom of the ninth inning to beat Riverside, 6-5.
Irvine Valley was shut out by Riverside starting pitcher Adrian Mendoza for 8 1/3 innings. IVC had just three hits through eight innings.
But the Lasers, who improved their record to 15-14 overall and 8-7 in the Orange Empire Conference, never stopped battling.
After pinch hitter Bobby Gomez grounded out to start the ninth inning, right fielder Robbie Robinson singled up the middle. Pinch hitter Alonzo Vasquez then hit a single to right center and second baseman Sean Williams was hit by a pitch on an 0-2 count to load the bases.
Mendoza was lifted for reliever Jeff Murray. Murray proceeded to throw a wild pitch, which scored Robinson from third base for IVC's first run of the game.
Catcher Corey Thibault struck out for the second out of the bottom of the ninth inning.
But third baseman Vince Hungerford singled to left center to drive in two runs keep the Lasers alive. It was now a 5-3 game.
Another pinch hitter, Jon Saldana, came through with another hit. He singled up the middle to put runners on first and second base.
Left fielder Kory Burkhart then rapped a double down the left field line to score Hungerford and bring the Lasers to within 5-4. Pinch runner Joseph Occhipinti was held at third base.
That was it for the Tigers' Murray on the mound. He was replaced by Eric Young. And Young hit IVC shortstop Anthony Gutierrez with a pitch to load the bases.
Steven Bayko came to the plate to pinch hit for Gomez. He took the first two pitches for balls and the third pitch for a strike. Bayko drove the next pitch he saw, a fastball, right back up the middle.
Occhipinti trotted home and Burkhart, hustling hard from second base, beat the throw home from Riverside center fielder Edwin Mendoza to give the Lasers the thrilling victory. IVC players mobbed Burkhart at the plate and then Bayko out near second base.
The win was not only dramatic, but also very important for Irvine Valley. The victory combined with Saddleback losing to Fullerton, 7-2, on Thursday moved Irvine Valley into a tie for fourth place with Saddleback in the conference standings. IVC holds the tiebreaker, having won two of three from the Gauchos this year.
The top four teams from the conference at the end of the regular season are expected to earn playoff berths.
Freshman Andrew Jimenez earned the win on the mound in relief of starter Matt Reyes for IVC.
Reyes went 6 1/3 innings, giving up five runs on eight hits and two walks. He struck out three.
Jimenez, who improved his record to 3-1 and lowered his ERA to 1.50, threw 2 2/3 scoreless innings. He gave up one hit and one walk.
Robinson ended up 3 for 4 on the day at the plate. He improved his batting average to .359 overall and a blistering .423 in conference.
Hungerford was 2 for 4 with two RBI for the Lasers.
Irvine Valley is now off from conference action for a week.
But the Lasers will still have four games over two straight days next week.
They will host Antelope Valley in a doubleheader on Wednesday, April 8 at 11 a.m. and 2:15 p.m. and then Victory Valley in a doubleheader on Thursday, April 9 at 11 a.m. and 2:15 p.m. The second game of each day will be seven innings.