It was quite a day for Irvine baseball teams as both Northwood and University captured victories on the road in the opening round of the CIF 3A playoffs.

All four Irvine teams, including Woodbridge and Beckman, won in the playoffs.

Northwood topped Lancaster, 4-2.

The Timberwolves (14-11) scored two runs in the first inning.

Coach Rob Stuart provided these details after his team returned home from Lancaster.
 

Ojo Weiss lined a double on the first pitch of the game. Justin Gisch doubled Weiss home and Aaron Globerson singled home Gisch.

Aaron Globerson, Kevin Locklear and Alex King led the hitting attack, Stuart said.

King and Locklear had two hits each and Globerson was 3-for-4. Globerson also doubled and stole a base.

"Globerson shined on defense with a highlight reel diving catch to quiet a Lancaster rally," Stuart said.

Steven Whisler earned the win giving up two unearned runs on three hits. John Model relieved in the fifth inning to pick up the save.

"Model pitched out of a jam in the fifth, inducing a double play to end the inning," Stuart said.

"The game changing play came in the bottom of the fourth with no outs and the score 3-2. Steven Whisler picked off a runner at second for the first out, then Danny Mallek threw out a Lancaster base runner on a pitchout: one pitch, two outs."

Northwood added an insurance run in the fifth inning on an RBI single by Mallek.

"Our guys really battled today," Stuart said. "We made every key play, threw a great pitch when it counted and got the clutch hit. It was a great team effort, a great win for our guys."

"They showed a tremendous amount of courage. There was a great crowd, loud and energetic. We were able to shut the noise out and play a great game. The win made the long bus ride home a lot of fun."

Northwood hosts top-seeded Bonita Tuesday at 3:15 p.m.

University's baseball players were also celebrating on the bus after defeating Alhambra, 2-0. Ian Barwick (6-2) pitched an 8-hit shutout for the Trojans (18-11).

Caleb Taylor had both RBI for the Trojans, one on a sacrifice fly and the other on a squeeze bunt. University, which had three hits, scored runs in the second and sixth inning.

The Trojans will host Rancho Alamitos Tuesday at 3:15 p.m.