Softball team slams OCC to get second straight win

The Rustlers softball team won their second consecutive conference game by defeating Orange Coast College by a score of 10-2 on Friday, March 18 at Golden West College. With their win Wednesday against Fullerton, the team has now won back-to-back games.

Head Coach Suzy Brazney said, "It's nice to see the team score runs early and stay focused.  Even when OCC was closing the lead, the team held it together to come out with a win.  After Wednesday's win again Fullerton, and then the win tonight, I feel the team is doing really well."

Golden West got out to an early lead in the second inning with sophomores Cynthia Niersbach and Shelia Samarin both getting runs. In the top of the third, freshman outfielder, Lauren Astengo, kept the momentum going when she hit her second home run of the season hitting a shot over the center field wall.

The Pirates appeared to narrow the lead GWC had in the bottom of the fourth inning by scoring two runs which would have changed the score to 4-3, but one of the runs was taken away by the umpires because OCC infielder Amy Hartwell stepped off third base prior to the pitch being thrown, which is an automatic out in softball.  Hartwell was ruled out and GWC was able to get out of the jam and get back up to bat.

Although the team got off to a rocky start, Golden West is attempting to battle back with a strong finish in conference play. The team is set to play Riverside on Thursday, March 24 at Golden West at 3 p.m. and then will compete in the Santa Barbara Tournament in Santa Barbara March 26 and 27.