Lee's Strong Start and Salmons Two Blasts Lift Rustlers Past Cats

HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif. - The Golden West College Rustlers Baseball built a commanding early lead and withstood a late rally to defeat the visiting Saddleback College Bobcats Baseball, 9–7, Friday afternoon in Orange Empire Conference action at Hoover Field.

Golden West pounded out 12 hits, including four home runs, and received a dominant starting pitching performance from Kameron Lee to secure the conference victory. The Rustlers improved to 13–10 overall and 1–5 in conference play, while Saddleback dropped to 13–9 overall and 3–3 in OEC play.

Golden West opened the scoring in the bottom of the second inning when Matt Fox launched a solo home run to left field to give the Rustlers a 1–0 lead.

The Rustlers extended their advantage in the third inning with a three-run outburst. Zach Fany led off the inning by blasting a solo home run to left, doubling the lead. Later in the frame, Max Senesac delivered a clutch two-run double to left-center field, scoring Brian Trujillo and Nick Salmon to push the lead to 4–0.

Golden West continued its offensive surge in the fourth inning. After Levi Maddela and Fany reached base, Nick Salmon crushed a three-run homer to right field, capping a powerful rally that stretched the Rustler lead to 7–0.

The Rustlers added another run in the fifth inning when Cole Belfanti singled to right field to score Senesac, giving Golden West an 8–0 advantage midway through the game.

Golden West starter Kameron Lee delivered one of his most effective outings of the season. The right-hander worked five hitless innings, allowing no runs while striking out four and issuing five walks.

Lee kept the Saddleback offense off balance throughout his outing, preventing the Bobcats from recording their first hit until the sixth inning.

The Bobcats finally broke through in the sixth inning when Carter Enoch singled to left field, driving in two runs as Saddleback cut the deficit to 8–2.

Saddleback mounted a major rally in the eighth inning, capitalizing on walks and defensive miscues. Cole Strane drew a bases-loaded walk before Dmitri Susidko delivered a three-run single that was misplayed in the outfield, allowing the Bobcats to pull within 8–6. Jack Borges followed with an RBI double down the left-field line, trimming the lead to 8–7.

Golden West responded immediately in the bottom of the eighth when Nick Salmon crushed his second home run of the game, a solo shot to right field that provided a crucial insurance run and extended the lead to 9–7.

Salmon finished the day 2-for-4 with two home runs, four RBIs, and three runs scored, leading the Rustlers' offensive effort.

After Saddleback's eighth-inning rally, the Golden West bullpen regrouped. Elias Reyes entered in the ninth and closed out the game to earn his first save of the season, securing the conference victory.

The Rustler pitching staff combined to strike out seven batters while limiting Saddleback to seven hits.