LEAPING OVER LASERS

After dropping game one at Irvine Valley College 6-3 on Tuesday, the Hornets had to earn their 20th victory at home against the Lasers on Thursday with a come-from-behind 14-13 shootout.

With the win, Fullerton is still holding strong in a tie for second place with Saddleback at 8-6 as the race for the Orange Empire Conference title tightens. The Irvine Valley loss keeps the team in last place with an OEC record of 3-11. Santa Ana and Golden West are currently tied in the OEC's first-place slot with conference records of 9-5.

The Hornets fell behind early in this one as the Lasers put up four runs by the top of the second. FC, however, tied it up at 4 apiece by the bottom of the second. By the end of the end of the fourth, the Hornets trailed the Lasers 11-10. Irvine Valley added two more runs in the sixth, but Fullerton answered back with two runs of its own to keep within striking distance. Down 13-12 heading into the into the eighth, the Hornets stepped up their game as Andrew Pyle hit one up the middle to get on with two outs. Landon Runge came up next belting a shot to right field for a double. With runners on second and third, Jacob Larson entered the batter's box and ripped a shot up the middle scoring Pyle and Runge for Fullerton's first lead of the game (14-13).

Ryan Franson came in to finish the game and earned his 5th save of the season with no hits, a walk and 1 strikeout. Ethan Moran (3-3) got the win tossing 5.1 innings with 6 hits, 2 earned runs, had 3 walks, and 1 strikeout. FC starter Ari Kligman went 2.2 with 7 hits against, had 3 earned runs, 2 walks, and 3 strikeouts.

Up Next: Fullerton (20-13 overall, 8-6 OEC) and Irvine Valley will wrap up the three-game OEC series back on the IVC campus tomorrow (Friday, April 12th) at 1:00 pm. 

*Photo by Matt Brown