Softball manages 1-0 win

Thanks to a dominant performance by sophomore pitcher Amanda Webster, the Rustlers softball team was able to pull themselves out of a three game losing streak in conference play, beating Fullerton 1-0.

Webster pitched all seven innings for Golden West, allowing six hits and four walks, but most importantly, no runs to earn the victory. Webster, one of only four pitchers in the Orange Empire Conference to have pitched over 100 innings in the 2011, earned the win despite the minimal amount of run support to improve her record to 6-1 and lower her ERA to 3.72.

The only run in the game came in the top of the fifth inning after a one-out triple by sophomore second baseman Sheila Samarin put a runner in scoring position for the Rustlers. Webster reached first after an error by the Hornets catcher, which allowed Samarin to score. The run was not credited to Fullerton's pitcher Allison Ledford, although she was credited with the loss.

Scoring runs has been an issue as of late for the Rustlers as Samarin's run against Fullerton represents only the second run recorded by Golden West in their prior four games. Webster and Samarin have been the two providing the majority of the offense for GWC for the majority of the season with .388 and .373 batting averages, respectively.

Despite a bases loaded situation with one out in the top of the fourth, the Rustlers couldn't manage to provide more run support for Webster, leaving a final total of seven runners on base.

The Hornets did no better, leaving eight runners on base. In fact, the second inning was the only inning that Fullerton did not leave a base runner stranded after Golden West's freshman catcher Chelsea Becerra caught two Hornet base runners attempting to steal second. Fullerton recorded two more hits than the Rustlers and one more walk, but were never able to punch a run in.

Golden West next played Cypress on Tuesday, April 12 (result past our deadline) and will see their next action against Orange Coast College at home on Wednesday, April 13. Four more games will follow their matchup against OCC before the playoffs begin May 7.