BASEBALL: HORNETS WERE SO CLOSE

In game two of the four game series against Irvine Valley College, the Hornets battled hard but came up short at home Thursday 11-10. 

IVC threw the first blow to go up 1-0 on a solo home run by Hank Schineller that went over the left field ivy.

The Hornets took a 2-1 lead in the second when Elias Rios cranked his second single of the day right up the middle scoring Ryan Lamastra and Sawyer Chesley.

Matt Darr opened up the third inning slamming a ball down the third baseline for a double, and Dominic Martinez came up poking a single to shallow center that brought Darr home.

The Lasers cut the Hornet lead at 3-2 getting one across in the fourth. Shane Kary's ground out to second base gave Dante Faicchio the opportunity to score from third base.

Fullerton seemingly broke the game open in the sixth inning scoring five runs to take an 8-2 advantage. Ryan Lamastra got on base after laying down a bunt for a fielder's choice, while Jimmy Blumberg high-tailed it home from third. After the dust settled, Blumberg's foot crossed home before the tag on his backside. Rios made his third hit of the day count when he crushed one over the right field ivy scoring Lamasta and Dean Drake. Martinez knocked in a run singling through the right side scoring Sharp.

IVC did not fold as they answered back big with a six-run inning in the seventh to tie the game up at 8 apiece. Five of those runs came with two outs on the board.

In the eighth, the Lasers snuck three runs past the Hornets taking a 11-8 lead.

In the bottom of the eighth, Jacob Sharp helped the comeback cause crushing a solo dinger over left field. Martinez then stepped up to the plate hitting a double to left field scoring Darr. By the inning's end, the Hornets trailed 11-10.

Offensively, Rios had 4 hits on the day with 5 RBI and a run. Martinez had 3 hits with 3 RBI, while Sharp had 2 hits, 1 RBI, and 2 runs. Joshua McClure had 2 hits and Jack Janes had a hit. In all, the Hornets had 14 total hits, while leaving 11 base runners stranded.

Starting pitcher Justin Schubert tossed a respectable 6.2 innings for the Hornets with 8 strikeouts and only 3 walks. Reliever Bryce Barnett also battled going 2.1 innings with 4 hits against and one walk. 

Up Next: The Hornets (2-8 overall, 1-7 OEC) and Irvine Valley will go at it again for a doubleheader at IVC this Friday, April 30^th at 12:00 pm and 3:00 pm.