Rustlers Roll Past Chargers with 7-1 Victory in OEC Clash
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
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0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 0 |
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1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | X | 7 | 12 | 1 |
HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif. — Golden West College put together a dominant all-around performance to knock off visiting Cypress College, 7-1, in Orange Empire Conference play Tuesday afternoon, snapping the Chargers' five-game win streak and handing them just their third conference loss of the season.
The Rustlers (21-17, 9-10 OEC) rode a balanced offensive attack and a deep bullpen effort to take down the first-place Chargers (30-8, 16-3 OEC), collecting 12 hits and holding Cypress to just five.
Golden West set the tone early, scoring in the bottom of the first on a groundout by Bryan Martinez that brought home Jonny Rodriguez. Cypress answered with a sacrifice fly in the fourth by Ethan Bigani to tie it 1-1, but it was all Rustlers after that.
The floodgates opened in the bottom of the fifth as Golden West plated five runs. Rodriguez gave the Rustlers the lead for good with an RBI single, then EJ Barnes drew a bases-loaded walk to make it 3-1. Landon Runyan followed with another bases-loaded walk before Cole Belfanti roped a two-run double down the left field line, extending the lead to 6-1.
Martinez added another RBI in the sixth with a double, his second extra-base hit of the game, scoring Rodriguez to cap the scoring.
Rodriguez led the charge offensively, finishing 3-for-5 with three runs and an RBI. Martinez went 2-for-4 with two RBIs and a walk, while Belfanti, Runyan, and Barnes each drove in a run.
On the mound, Golden West used seven different pitchers to stymie the Chargers. Dylan Leoff (1-0) earned the win with two solid innings of relief, while the Rustlers' bullpen combined for 12 strikeouts and allowed just one earned run.
The victory was one of Golden West's most complete games of the season, with error-free defense, timely hitting, and shutdown pitching against one of the top teams in the state.
The Rustlers return to action Thursday, April 24, when they visit Cypress for the second game of the three-game OEC series. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m.