Irvine Gets It Right : Upper Deck: Vaqueros knock off nation’s top team, Miami Westminster Christian, 6-3, to gain berth in final against No. 2-ranked Simi Valley.

The frustration that had trailed Irvine’s baseball season gave way to elation Wednesday night.

When second baseman Chris Greinke squeezed the last popup to seal a 6-3 victory over Miami Westminster Christian at Cal State Fullerton, he was mobbed by teammates in celebration and relief.

The victory over the Warriors (17-3), the top-ranked team in the nation according to USA Today, gave the Vaqueros a spot in the Upper Deck Tournament championship game. Irvine plays Simi Valley, the nation’s second-ranked team and a 13-7 winner over Carmichael Jesuit, tonight at 7 at Fullerton.

But the victory also represented the continued awakening of a team that was ranked ninth in the nation, but has struggled throughout the season. The Vaqueros (11-5) had lost two of three games entering the tournament.

“This is great,” first baseman Ryan Jones said. “We came into tournament just wanting to do things right. Beating them is the result of that.”

Jones certainly did his part. He had two of the Vaqueros’ eight hits and drove in a run.

Scott Seal also had two hits and scored two runs. Ryan O’Toole broke the game open with a two-run double, part of a four-run fifth inning that gave Irvine a 6-3 lead.

Greinke and Sobek also had RBIs. The Vaqueros have scored 28 runs in three tournament games.

It was all part of a team effort, with pitcher Tommie Louie in the center.

Louie (5-2), who won his second game in as many days, went 4 2/3 mediocre innings. He gave up seven hits, walked four and hit a batter. But he survived.

Twice he left the bases loaded. Both times he struck out Steve Butler, who will play at Florida State next season.

“I was pumped and I wanted him, so I got him,” Louie said.

Louie also left runners on second and third in the first.

The Warriors, who were coming off an emotional victory over Esperanza, rallied in the fifth, scoring twice.

But Eric Sobek relieved Louie to and got out of the inning. He finished up for the save.

In consolation games:

Gonzalez (Fla.) Tate 4, Esperanza 1--Jeremy Jordan had two doubles to lead Gonzalez (Fla.) Tate (16-3). Finley Woodward pitched a five-hitter for Tate, which is ranked 12th by USA Today.

Esperanza (9-5) scored its only run in the bottom of the third inning when Jeremy Viscusi scored on a fielder’s choice.

El Dorado 20, Okmulgee (Okla.) 0--Dave Perry (1-0) stuck out eight and allowed only two hits in six innings for the Golden Hawks (10-5). El Dorado scored in every inning, including eight in thee first. Chad Peters had three hits and three RBIs and Andy Osborne had two hits and three RBIs for the Golden Hawks.

Mater Dei 7, Marist (N.J.) 0--Andy Castro (3-0) allowed only one runner to reach base, on a single in the seventh inning, to lead Mater Dei (12-2). Jeff Frankel had two hits for the Monarchs.