BASEBALL: HORNETS DODGE LASERS

After a Spring Break to forget (losing two out of three games), the Hornets were eager to get back on the field Tuesday for some Orange Empire Conference action beating Irvine Valley College at home 4-1.

Ranked 20^th in the state, Fullerton (7-3) is currently atop the OEC standings along with Saddleback, who is ranked 2nd. Orange Coast (ranked 11th) is just a game behind at 6-4 after falling to Saddleback 8-1.

IVC scored the game's first run taking a 1-0 lead in the third inning when Colin Conroy grounded out at short stop. Ryan Santa Cruz came in to score from third as the out was made at first.

Monte Montenegro came up with the bases loaded with no outs in the bottom of the fifth and hit into a double play; however it scored Josh McIntyre from third base to tie it up. The Hornets went up 2-1 when Jesse Hayes ripped a hard grounder up the middle for a base hit scoring Ryan Aguirre. Prior to the inning, starting pitcher Nick Janowicz was throwing a no-hitter.

Fullerton got on the board again in the eighth scoring two runs. Josh McIntyre reached on a fielder's choice that gave Delgadillo that chance to score on a Laser throwing error. Ryan Aguirre hit a SAC fly to center scoring PJ Gordon.

FC starting pitcher Connor Tousignant (3-2) had another strong outing throwing a complete game with 4 K's abnd 1 earned. It was Tousignant's second complete game of the season. Right Fielder Thomas Delgadillo had an impressive day defensively making a diving catch and gunning down a runner trying to stretch a double from deep right

Up Next: Fullerton (15-13 overall, 7-3 OEC) will play game two of the three-game series at Irvine Valley College on Thursday, April 5 at 2:00 pm.

*Photos by Jim McCormack and Phil Thurman