Rustlers Overpower Tigers 13-4

HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif. — The Golden West College softball team erupted for nine runs in the opening inning and cruised to a 13–4 mercy-rule victory over Riverside City College on Thursday afternoon at home.

The win improves the Rustlers to 11–7 overall and 2–0 in Orange Empire Conference play.

Riverside struck first in the top of the first inning when Alysha Kendrick doubled home a run to give the Tigers a 1–0 lead. Golden West quickly answered with a dominant bottom half of the inning, sending 13 batters to the plate and scoring nine runs on six hits to seize control of the game.

Erica Madrid tied the game with an RBI single before Callie Burnett delivered a two-run double to give the Rustlers their first lead. Isabella Gallegos followed with an RBI single, and Ariana Hernandez added a two-run single to extend the advantage. The Rustlers capped the inning when Mya Santiago reached on a Riverside error that allowed three additional runs to score, giving Golden West a 9–1 lead after one inning.

Riverside trimmed the deficit in the third inning as Kendrick drove in another run with a single and Giselle Flores Morales connected for a two-run home run to cut the lead to 9–4.

Golden West responded in the fourth inning with four more runs to put the game out of reach. Jaxton Marshall doubled down the right field line to drive in two runs, and Hernandez followed with a two-run single to push the Rustlers' lead to 13–4.

Hernandez led the offensive effort, finishing 2-for-3 with four RBIs. Burnett added two hits and two RBIs, while Marshall recorded a two-run double and scored twice. Isabella Santiago went 3-for-3 with two runs scored, and the Rustlers collected 12 hits in the victory.

In the circle, Erica Rivera earned the win to improve to 5–3, allowing four runs on eight hits over four innings while striking out three. Angelique Perez closed out the game with a scoreless fifth inning to secure the mercy-rule win.

The Rustlers look for the series sweep tomorrow afternoon when they travel to Riverside City for a 2pm start.