Baseball team needs to clean up its mistakes

On Saturday, March 5, the Golden West baseball team traveled to play the Santa Ana Dons, but lost 3-4. The Rustlers have struggled all season with consistency, winning and losing in streaks to earn an 8-7 record.

Sophomore Mike Syrett was the starting pitcher for the Rustlers and pitched until the seventh inning, allowing three runs. Two of the runs came in the second inning causing the Rustlers to fall behind early in the game.

The green and gold played catch up and managed to tie the score at 2-all in the fifth inning. Freshman Donald Sneed hit a two-RBI single, bringing home Josh Cunningham, and Eric Gonzalez.

Despite battling their way back in the game, the Rustlers failed to wrestle the lead away from the Dons. Gary Apelian of Santa Ana, hit a crucial home run off Syrett in the sixth inning to take the lead.

"We're struggling, not executing on defense and giving too many free base runners. That's what is beating us," said head coach Bert Villarreal after the loss.

In a final attempt to win the game, Sneed hit his third RBI of the game with two outs, bringing Josh Tucker home. The game ended with Alex Hernandez pop-flying out, ending the Rustlers' hopes to gain momentum.

"We need to clean up the mistakes, we made them at the wrong time," said Villarreal.

Their next two games are against the top two teams in the Orange Empire Conference. The Rustlers' will travel to play Cypress College (9-4) on Tuesday, March 8 and host the Orange Coast College (15-1) on Thursday, March 10.