Califano’s hustle helps Rustlers walk-off

After surrendering the lead in the fifth inning, Golden West chipped away and earned a 7-6 victory in walk-off fashion for the second day in a row at Hoover Field.

Leadoff hitter Frank Califano started the game off with a bang hitting a 400-foot triple to dead centerfield. James Stea singled him in on the very next pitch to start the scoring for the Rustlers. Golden West (9-4) ended the first inning with 2 runs off 4 consecutive hits. Unfortunately, the Rustlers were unable to capitalize on its strong first inning as scoring ceased until the seventh inning.

In that time, Bakersfield (3-8) put together a 5-run fifth inning bringing 9 batters to the plate and forced Golden West to lift starter David Wiggins for Adrian Martinez. Martinez and Justin Moulds pitched well in relief and were able to hold off the Renegades from scoring anymore runs.

Golden West started chipping away at Bakersfield's 6-2 lead in the seventh inning with an RBI single from Keegan Reeser right through the honey hole scoring Connor Larson. Larson came around to score eighth inning as well courtesy of an RBI single from Califano.

Excitement ensued with 1 out in the ninth inning when Michael Chavez hit a bouncer to short stop and the ball was thrown away, allowing a run to score and put runners on second and third. Larson came through in the clutch hitting the game-tying RBI single. After a groundout and a walk, Califano showed everyone why Hoover Field is his field hitting a walk-off infield single to first base. Califano looked like he would surely be out, but he ran a hard 90 and beat the Bakersfield first baseman who took his time fielding the bouncer and getting to the bag.

Golden West and Bakersfield will complete the 3-game series tomorrow. Game time will be high noon at Hoover Field.