After a two-game hiatus from Orange Empire Conference action, the Dons picked up right where they left off with a 7-2 win over Irvine Valley College. The two teams will wrap up their season series on Thursday, April 12 at Irvine Valley College as the Dons look to complete the season sweep.
The game was tight early with the Dons (22-7, 9-6) scoring first following a pair of Lasers (11-18, 4-10) errors. Konnor Armijo led the second inning off with a single before a throwing error advanced him to third base. Two batters later, Armijo scored on the Lasers second error of the inning to put the Dons up 1-0.
The lead wouldn't last as Ryan Wagner hit a one-out, solo home run to left field in the top of the fourth inning to pull the Lasers into a 1-1 tie.
But the Dons offense would pick up its pitcher, scoring a pair of runs in the bottom of the fourth inning to put the Dons back on top 3-1. After the first two batters were retired, Trevor Magno singled to centerfield before Geoff Schuller's RBI-double plated him. Andy Peterson then hit a RBI-single that scored Schuller from second.
Irvine Valley pulled within one in the fifth inning with a pair of Dons errors aiding the run. Tim Ralston led the frame off with an infield single. An error on the play advanced him to second before eventually scoring on Bryce Hara's RBI-single.
A second error in the inning kept the Lasers rally alive before an unorthodox double play got Bruce Tolliver out of the jam. Danny Jimenez appeared to line out to first base, setting up an unassisted double play. However, a dropped ball on the play allowed the Dons to throw out the two lead batters and escape the jam.
Following the top of the fifth, the Dons began to pull away with at least one run in each of the next three innings. Tyler Madrid led the fifth off with a double before scoring on Armijo's infield single.
Blake Walker drew a leadoff walk in the sixth inning before a passed ball and a wild pitch moved him to third base. He then scored on a RBI-double by Peterson.
Finally, the Dons scored two runs in the seventh inning with Armijo singling in Dylan Jones, who doubled before Armijo eventually scored the final run of the game. Armijo scored the run when he stole third base, drawing another Lasers error that allowed him to score on the play.
On the day, Peterson finished 5-for-5 with two RBI while Armijo also had a pair of RBI following his 3-for-4 performance.
On the mound, Tolliver (2-1) got the win as he held IVC to two runs, one earned, on five hits over five innings with eight strikeouts. Richard Diaz and Matt Blanchard each pitched two innings in relief and struck out three batters apiece, giving the Dons 14 strikeouts on the day.
Jordan Geiger (1-6) took the loss for the Lasers after allowing three runs, two earned, on six hits in four innings of work.
