Irvine Valley's baseball team dropped its first game of the season, falling to San Diego Mesa, 4-2, at home on Saturday afternoon in a contest that was close from start to finish.
San Diego Mesa's Anthony Thompkins hit a two-run home run in the second inning to give the Olympians the lead.
Mesa went up, 3-0, in the top of the fourth and then took a four-run advantage in the top of the sixth on an RBI double down the right field line by Kerim Orucevic.
Irvine Valley scored late with a sacrifice fly by sophomore designated hitter Jake Amundson in the bottom of the sixth and scored again with a RBI fielder's choice by freshman second baseman Adrian Covarrubias in the bottom the the ninth.
Irvine Valley left runners on base on the afternoon - eight in total.
Sophomore left-hander Christian Viggiano took the loss for the Lasers (0-1).
He went four innings and gave up three runs on four hits and one strikeout.
Freshman righty Nathan Gentz followed up and threw a solid five innings and only giving up one run on three hits with two strikeouts.
For IVC at the plate, sophomore catcher Shane Flynn went 2 for 4 and sophomore right fielder Sam Tucci was 2 for 4 with a run scored for the Lasers.
Thompkins finished with three RBI for te Olympians.
Irvine Valley went to 10-1 overall and is still one of the best teams in state rankings.
Depending on weather for the rest of nest week, IVC is scheduled to host Grossmont Tuesday.
Updates on the schedule for the week with the weather ahead will be posted Monday.
