Rustlers Rally Past San Diego Mesa, 8–4, Behind Big Fourth Inning

HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif. - The Golden West College Rustlers baseball team erased an early four-run deficit with a seven-run outburst in the fourth inning and went on to defeat visiting San Diego Mesa College, 8–4, Friday afternoon at Rustler Field.

San Diego Mesa jumped out to a 3–0 lead through the first two innings and extended the advantage to 4–0 on a solo home run in the top of the fourth. Golden West responded immediately, sending 11 batters to the plate in the bottom half of the inning to completely flip the game.

Matt Fox put the Rustlers on the board with an RBI single, followed by a bases-loaded hit-by-pitch to Max Senesac to make it 4–2. Zach Fany then delivered a clutch two-run double to tie the game before Levi Maddela capped the rally with a two-run double to right field. An additional run scored on another hit-by-pitch, giving Golden West a 7–4 lead by the end of the frame.

The Rustlers added an insurance run in the sixth inning when Nick Salmon launched a solo home run to center field, his first of the season, extending the lead to 8–4.

Maddela finished the day 1-for-3 with two RBIs and two walks, while Fany went 1-for-3 with a double and two RBIs. Salmon scored twice, drove in a run, and reached base three times, and Senesac added an RBI as part of the decisive fourth inning.

On the mound, Kameron Lee earned the win for Golden West, improving to 2–1 on the season after allowing four runs on nine hits over five innings while striking out six. The Rustler bullpen was dominant, as Elias Reyes, Alex Stern, and Garrett McGuigan combined to toss four scoreless innings, allowing just one hit and striking out seven to close out the victory.

With the win, Golden West improves to 3–2 on the season, while San Diego Mesa falls to 1–4. Rustlers will host San Diego City College on Wednesday February 4th at Hoover Field with a 1pm first pitch