In its first game on the home campus field since Mar. 11, 2020, Irvine Valley's baseball team walked off with a special win.
The Lasers scored four runs in the bottom of the ninth to stun Long Beach City and take both games of the opening 2023 series Saturday afternoon.
It was a magical ninth inning as Irvine Valley scored the four runs with two outs to improve its record to 2-0 overall.
IVC defeated Long Beach City on the road, 10-1, on Friday in its first game of the season.
Saturday, with the bases loaded and down one run, Laser freshman third baseman Kevin James hit a pitch down the right field line. Long Beach City's Cody Lagafuaina laid out to make a catch, but the ball was just off of his mitt and IVC freshman center fielder Shane Stafford and pinch-runner Blake Beckley scored to give Irvine Valley the wild win.
James was mobbed at second base by the entire IVC squad.
Irvine Valley has played its last two seasons of home games at the Orange County Great Park in the main stadium and outer fields with field construction and improvements happening on campus.
Saturday was a fine way to show off the new IVC facility in front of an impressive crowd.
And the fans were excited to see the Lasers rally in the ninth inning.
Trailing, 6-3, with one out Irvine Valley got a runner on base in the ninth when sophomore second baseman Nolan Cusey was hit by a pitch.
A long fly out by sophomore pinch hitter George Enriquez put the Vikings within an out of closing things out.
But sophomore left fielder Drew Porter smashed a double to right center to score Cusey and make it a 6-4 game.
The Lasers continued the two-out come back. Pinch-hitter Jimmy Zakhar beat out ground ball to shortstop for a hit to put runners on first and third.
And freshman center fielder worked a walk to load the bases.
Irvine Valley got within a run at 6-5 when sophomore shortstop Nick Madole was hit by a pitch that scored Porter.
And that brought up James.
He did the rest for the second game in a row. James had two hits, including a home run in IVC's win at Long Beach City on Friday.
Madole and Porter had big games at the plate for the Lasers.
Both went 3 for 4 with one RBI each. James finished with two RBI.
Sophomore righty Austin Chapman started on the mound and pitched a solid six innings, giving up two runs on six hits with four strikeouts.
Freshman right-hander Cole Dietch earned the win in relief. He gave up one hit and struck out a batter in the top of the ninth.
Evan Vasquez had three hits and two RBI and Justin Santovo had two RBI for the Vikings.
Irvine Valley plays again next Thursday at San Bernardino Valley at 1:45 p.m. It's next home game is against San Bernardino Valley on Saturday, Feb. 4 at 1 p.m.
