SANTA ANA - The Dons bounced back from back-to-back extra inning losses today with a 10-4 win over Irvine Valley College, securing the season series over the Lasers. The win, coupled with a loss by Golden West, moved the Dons (20-11, 7-10) into sole possession of sixth place in the Orange Empire Conference.
The Dons are now two games behind third place which is held by Cypress College, Orange Coast College and Saddleback College. Saddleback and Orange Coast loss today while Cypress won, creating the three-way tie. Orange Coast's loss was to Riverside City College as the Tigers now find themselves in second place.
As for the game against Irvine Valley (10-21, 5-12), the Dons took the lead for good in the sixth inning when Daniel Martinez broke a 3-3 tie with his three-run double to left field. The Lasers would score one run in the seventh to make it 6-4, but the Dons added another four runs in the bottom of the seventh to establish their 10-4 winning score.
The Dons took an early 2-0 lead in the second inning when JB Bryant singled to centerfield, scoring Derek Meddings. The ball was misplayed in the outfield and the error allowed Joshua Vargas to score from first base.
After the Lasers tied the game at 2-2 in the fifth inning on a two-run double by Taran Tani, Bryant once again put the Dons up with his solo home run in the bottom of the fifth inning. But the Lasers would find a way to tie the game again in the sixth inning, albeit shortly, when Ryan Wagner scored on a passed ball.
The Dons four runs in the seventh came in on a Cody Bistline double, a bases loaded walk issued to Vargas, a RBI-ground out by Bryant and a wild pitch. Irvine Valley's final run came in on a triple by Matt Harris.
Ryan Chapman (2-1) got the win for the Dons as he pitched one inning in relief, allowing just one run on one hit. Tyler Sloan got a no-decision in the game despite a strong performance. Sloan left the game with a 3-2 lead but was responsible for two base runners. His final line was three runs, two earned, on three hits over 5.2 innings of work. Jon South took the loss for Irvine Valley after allowing five runs, four earned, on five hits in 5.2 innings.
