SANTA ANA – The Dons found themselves on the short end of a pitcher's duel as they fell to Irvine Valley College 2-1 in an Orange Empire Conference game. The loss drops the Dons to 11-8-1 overall and 2-5 in the OEC while Irvine Valley moves to 12-8 and 4-3.

The Dons scored the first run of the game in the fourth inning when Cameron Baranek hit a leadoff single before stealing second base. He came around to score two batters later on Devan Campos' RBI-single through the left side.

Through that point of the game, Grant Wilhelm had not allowed a base runner until Lucas Tancas drew a leadoff walk in the top of the fifth inning. He moved to second on a single by Robbie Espinosa before taking third on a sacrifice bunt. Tancas would come in to score during the next at bat when Adam Vargas laid down a sacrifice bunt, tying the game at 1-1.

Wilhelm bounced back with another perfect inning in the sixth but an error in the seventh inning put the Lasers leadoff batter, Brett Hamilton, on second base. After a sacrifice bunt moved Hamilton to third, Espinosa singled him in for the go-ahead run.

The Dons were able to get three base runners in scoring position over the final three innings, but were unable to get the necessary hit to drive a run in.

Wilhelm (0-3) took the loss for the Dons as he allowed two runs, one earned, on just one hit over six innings. Justin Zielinski (5-0) threw a complete game for the Lasers as he held the Dons to one run on seven hits.