Irvine Valley's baseball team made it three in a row with a 8-5 win over Mt. San Jacinto on Friday afternoon.
After taking two straight from Grossmont on Wednesday and Thursday, IVC captured the first of two games against the Eagles.
Irvine Valley, which leveled its overall record at 5-5, travels to Mt. San Jacinto on Saturday for a 12 p.m. start.
The Lasers fell behind early on Friday, but kept chipping away.
Mt. San Jacinto (2-7) jumped out to a 5-1 lead after scoring five runs in the top of the third inning. The big blow was a three-run triple by Peter Brooks.
But then Irvine Valley scored a run in the bottom of the third on a RBI single by sophomore shortstop Robert Haw and added a run in the bottom of the fourth on a RBI double by sophomore designated hitter Hank Schineller to make it a 5-3 game.
The Lasers tied the score at 5 with two runs in the bottom of the fifth. Sophomore left fielder Kyle Dobson had an RBI single and then sophomore Collin Villegas pushed a bunt down the first base line for a single that brought in sophomore center fielder Joey Lapolla.
Irvine Valley took the lead for good in the bottom of the sixth on a RBI single by Lapolla.
And then IVC stretched its lead to 8-5 in the bottom of the eighth after some hustle by freshman right fielder Bradley Wilkison.
Haw reached on a single and Wilkison laid down a bunt in front of the plate. With the speedy Wilkison charging down the first base line, Mt. San Jacinto's catcher threw the ball over his first baseman's head and down the right field line.
Wilkison hightailed it around the bases and slid in at home without a throw to give the Lasers a nice cushion on the scoreboard.
That was more than enough for freshman left-handed pitcher Sterling Locicero, who was spectacular in relief for the Lasers.
He entered the game in the top of the fourth and pitched six scoreless inning. Locicero allowed just two hits and struck out three batters to earn the victory – his first of the year.
Mt. San Jacinto starter Alonzo Diaz took the loss. He went 5.2 innings and allowed six runs (five earned) on 11 hits and one walk with two strikeouts.
Irvine Valley finished with 13 hits on the day.
Lapolla was 3 for 5 with a double, two runs scored and one RBI, Haw went 2 for 3 with a walk and one RBI, Villegas was 2 for 4 with a run and one RBI, Schineller was 2 for 4 with a double and one RBI and Wilkison reached base three times and scored three runs for the Lasers.
