Irvine Valley's baseball team battled, but started its Orange Empire Conference series against Cypress with a 8-5 defeat.
The Lasers will play at Cypress on Thursday at 2 p.m. and then host the Chargers on Saturday at noon to close out the series.
Irvine Valley's record went to 13-16 overall and 0-10 in conference play. Cypress improved to 22-7 overall and 8-2 in the conference.
IVC had its chances, but left 11 runners on base in the game.
The Lasers gave up four runs in the top of the second inning, but answered with three runs in the bottom of the frame to make it a game.
IVC scored two runs on an error and another when freshman left fielder Cole Lefebvre was hit by a pitch.
Cypress added a run in the top of the third inning and two more in the top of the fifth to go ahead, 7-3.
Irvine Valley made things interesting late. Freshman center fielder Sam Tucci knocked in a run with a single up the middle to make it a 8-5 ballgame.
But the Lasers couldn't tack on any more runs.
Sophomore right-handed pitcher Tyler Eastham took the loss for IVC. He went 3.2 innings and gave up five runs on seven hits and three walks with three strikeouts.
On offense, IVC finished with 12 hits.
Freshman second baseman Josh Gutierrez went 4 for 5 with a run scored, and sophomore first baseman Jackson Snitko and Tucci each had two hits. Snitko had a double, a walk and scored a run and Tucci also walked, scored a run and contributed two RBI.
Cypress was led by Travis Curry, who hit a two-run single to get the Chargers going in the top of the second. He finished with three RBI on the day.
Bradley Navarro, Braden Ruiz and Zach Anderson and Ty Peters each had two hits for Cypress.
Tommy McGuire improved to 7-0 on the mound, throwing five innings. He gave up four runs (one earned) on six hits and two walks with six strikeouts.
