Rustlers Survive Game 3 of Super Regionals

Huntington Beach, CA - Golden West baseball (31-13, 15-6 OEC) trounced the Santa Barbara City Vaqueros (30-13, 19-5 OEC) in game three, 16-5. 

Facing elimination, the Rustlers entered game three of the Super Regional tournament as the visiting team against Santa Barbara City. Golden West came off of a tough loss against Santa Ana on Thursday, 3-14. With one more loss eliminating the No. 3 Rustlers from the postseason bracket, Head Coach Drew Ramos went to his ace. Alex Ramos rested the first day of the Super Regionals and took the mound for his most important appearance of the season thus far. The first inning did not go as planned as the Vaqueros loaded the bases with no outs. Santa Barbara City tallied two runs from a two-RBI single but the Rustlers got out of the jam without further damage, 0-2. 

Golden West responded in the top of third in a big way. Dom Porter led off the inning with a hit by pitch to put a base runner on for Zech Samayao. The designated hitter stepped up and demolished the pitch over the high left field wall for a game tying two-run home run, 2-2. The Rustlers were not done as Andrew Kirchner went back to back. The first base destroyed a no-doubt shot to dead center to earn Golden West their first lead of the day, 3-2. Jack Salmon created an amazing opportunity for the Rustlers as he began the fourth with a standup double to left center. Robert Castillo took advantage and singled to right field for an RBI knock, 4-2. With runners at the corners, Kaleb Duncan beat out a throw to collect an RBI, 5-2. 

Santa Barbara City got a run back in the bottom half of the inning with a solo home run, 5-3. The Vaqueros again threatened in the bottom of the fifth but the Rustlers defense made two great plays. Porter sprinted into foul territory to catch the first out of the frame and Dylan Lina did the same near the third base line. In the top of the sixth, the Rustlers added a couple more insurance runs. Ayden Garcia stepped into the box with ducks on the pound and laced an RBI single, 6-3. On an error by the third baseman, Kaleb Duncan was able to cross home plate, 7-3. Lina led off the seventh inning with a long double to the left center and scored on a Salmon single, 8-3. Castillo hit the ball on the ground and it went right under the third baseman's glove to score Salmon, 9-3. A wild pitch brought home Castillo as Golden West earned their tenth run of the game, 10-3. A passed ball scored Rocco Caballero and an RBI single from Garcia brought home Porter to make it a dozen for the Rustlers, 12-3.  In the ninth, Alec Castillo and Caballero each singled in two, 16-3. Santa Barabara tallied two in the bottom half of the inning but fell to Golden West, 16-5. 

The Rustlers survived game three of the Super Regional round as they put up 16 runs in the elimination game. Salmon had a great day at the plate as he was the only Rustler with three hits as he scored twice and earned an RBI. Catcher Garcia went 2-5 while Samayao went 1-4 as they each earned two RBIs. R. Castillo collected two hits, two runs scored and a RBI. After a dangerous first inning, Ramos settled in for 6.0 frames pitched with only three runs allowed and five strikeouts. JJ Robles came in for 3.0 innings of relief and only allowed one hit to close out the victory. Golden West now plays the winner of the 3pm game 4 matchup between the Santa Barbara Vaqueros and the Santa Ana Dons. 

UP NEXT: Golden West will face the winner of game 4 between Santa Barbara and Santa Ana on Saturday, May 11th. First pitch will be at 12pm.