Photo by Joey Gray / JPWest Media
Irvine Valley's baseball team was back and forth with Santa Ana going into the top of the ninth inning.
But the Dons scored two runs on three hits in the ninth to pull out a 6-4 victory in the finale of a three-game Orange Empire Conference series.
Santa Ana won all three of the games and improved its record to 14-6 overall and 6-0 in conference play.
The Lasers fell to 12-11 overall and 0-6 in the OEC.
Irvine Valley plays again next Tuesday and Wednesday against LA Harbor in non-conference games. It is spring break week. IVC is at La Harbor on Tuesday at 1 p.m. and then hosts Harbor on Wednesday at 2 p.m.
IVC left-hander Jackson Chastain pitched seven strong innings. He gave up four runs (three earned) on five hits with three strikeouts.
Chastain threw six scoreless innings before the Dons scored four runs in the top of the seventh to take a 4-2 lead.
Irvine Valley tied the game in the bottom of the seventh inning on a two-run home run by freshman shortstop Jake Amundson.
It stayed that way until Santa Ana put two runs on the board in the top of the ninth inning. Nathanie Williams hit an RBI single up the middle to give Santa Ana the lead and then Jackson Haney reached on a fielder's choice to bring in another run and put the Dons up by two.
Sophomore right-hander Zack Marker took the loss for Irvine Valley, giving up two runs on three hits in two innings.
Irvine Valley finished with seven hits on the day. Amundson and sophomore catcher Aaron Serrato each had two-run home runs. Freshman right fielder Brandon Abernathy added two hits.
IVC next takes on LA Harbor Tuesday on the road and then hosts Harbor at home on Wednesday at 2 p.m.
