Back in the Swing of Things

Huntington Beach, Calif. - Golden West baseball snaps a 4-game slide by beating Fullerton College 3-2 in an Orange Empire Conference match up on Tuesday afternoon.

For the first time in the past six games, the Rustlers were able to hold their opponent scoreless in the first inning.

However, it wasn't until the bottom of the 5th inning when back-to-back pinch hitters started the offense, putting Golden West on the board 1-0. Josh Cunningham (Savanna HS) doubled, and Bobby Webb(Long Beach Wilson HS) sliced a ball through the infield scoring Cunningham to put Rustlers up 1-0.

Again in the 6th, it was more Rustler action as John Sever (Savanna HS) walked, William Shaw (Orange Lutheran HS) singled advancing Sever to third, and Kyle Jones(Edison HS) punched one to right driving in Sever and advancing Shaw to third base. Fullerton tried to answer the Rustlers push with new blood, pulling from the bullpen; Fullerton's Kevin Jenkins came into the game grounding out Daniel DeWolf (Long Beach Wilson HS) but not before both runners advance. Then a wild pitch by Jenkins, put Golden West up 3-0. Jenkins settled down and struck out Golden West's next two batters to end the inning.

Fullerton's only offense in the game came in the top of the seventh inning. An error by the Rustlers set the momentum forward for the Hornets putting two runners in scoring position. A single and a sacrifice fly drove in their only runs for the day, but it just wasn't enough offense to get the win.

Golden West held on as they improved to 4-4 in conference and 12-8-1 overall.