The Irvine Valley baseball team had everything going in the right direction until the top of the ninth inning on Saturday against a highly-ranked team at home.
The Lasers led No. 11 in Southern California, Long Beach City, 8-4, with three outs to go.
Long Beach City rallied with four runs in the top of the ninth and then ended up coming away with a 13-10 win over Irvine Valley in a wild, 12-inning, 4-hour and 21-minute game that featured 35 hits between the two squads and 11 pitchers.
Irvine Valley allowed five unearned runs in the ballgame.
The Vikings swept the three-game series against Irvine Valley.
Irvine Valley led, 2-0, after sophomore shortstop Robert Haw knocked in two runs with a single in the bottom of the second inning.
Long Beach City came back with three runs in the top of the third, but IVC then took the lead back at 5-3 with three runs in the bottom of the frame on a RBI triple by sophomore catcher Collin Villegas, a RBI sacrifice fly by sophomore left fielder Kyle Dobson and then a RBI single by sophomore third baseman Dante Faicchio.
IVC extended its lead in the bottom of the sixth inning to 6-3 with a RBI triple by sophomore right fielder Dane Kakatsuka.
And the Lasers took a 8-4 advantage in the bottom of the eighth inning when freshman pinch-hitter Jack Haggerty was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded and then freshman second baseman David Dorado knocked in a run with a single to right field.
But Long Beach rallied in the top of the ninth, scoring four runs on four hits and one IVC error.
Ryan Guerrero tied the game with a single up the middle with one out in the top of the ninth off of Irvine Valley freshman relief pitcher Joshua Ribera.
The Vikings then took a 10-8 lead in the top of the 10th inning when Sammy Osuna hit a two-run single to left center with two outs. Off of IVC freshman reliever Joseph Cossette.
Irvine Valley battled too.
The Lasers tied the game at 10 in the bottom of the 10th when Collin Villegas scored on an error from second base. He had doubled to lead off the inning. And then sophomore center fielder Joey Lapolla knocked in the tying run with a double to left center.
But in the end, that was it for the Lasers.
Long Beach City put across three runs in the top of the 12th inning on one hit, two walks, a hit by pitch and two errors by Irvine Valley.
Irvine Valley's record went to 2-5 on the year, while Long Beach City improved to 7-2.
Cossette took the loss for IVC. He gave up four runs (one earned) on two hits and two walks in 2.1 innings.
Freshman righty Steve Hayden started on the mound for IVC and went four innings, allowing three runs (one earned) on four hits and three walks with one strikeout.
Marcellus Henry picked up the win for LBCC. He pitched two scoreless innings and only gave up one hit with a strikeout.
For IVC at the plate, Haw was 3 for 7 with a walk, a run scored and two RBI, Faicchio was 3 for 5 with a walk, two runs scored and one RBI and Villegas went 3 for 7 with two runs scored and one RBI. Dorado and Lapolla each also had three hits for the Lasers in the game.
Long Beach City was led by Carter White, who went 3 for 6 with one run scored and Diego Altamirano, whoe went 2 for 4 with two walks, three runs and three RBI.
Irvine Valley is back in action on Wednesday, hosting Grossmont at 2 p.m.
