Rustlers Earn Tenth Conference Victory

Huntington Beach, CA - Golden West softball (16-14, 10-9 OEC) earned their tenth conference victory against the Orange Coast Pirates (22-12, 12-6 OEC), 4-3.

The Rustlers hosted the Pirates for their final series home opener with Orange Coast in third and Golden West behind them at fourth place in the Orange Empire Conference. The first two meetings are held at Golden West on Monday and Tuesday with the season and series finale at Orange Coast College. 

The home team drew the first run on the board in the first inning as Desyree Arizmendi walked with the bases loaded to score Sofia Herrera, 1-0. Though the Pirates threatened in the second with a runner in scoring position, Arizmendi struck out the side for the three outs. 

In the third, the Pirates tallied two runs to retaliate and take the lead, 1-2. However, the lead was short lived as the Rustlers rallied in the bottom of the third. Shelby Jacobsz and Allyssa DeMayo stroked back to back hits to get runners in scoring position for Arizmendi. The pitcher stepped up to the plate and hit a fly ball to right field for an RBI sacrifice fly out, 2-2. Tied at two apiece, Candice DeMayo looked to regain the advantage. She smacked a single to left field for an RBI hit that scored A. DeMayo, 3-2. A passed ball scored C. DeMayo later in the inning which added an insurance run, 4-2. 

Arizmendi not only had a successful day at the plate but in the pitching circle as she collected two RBIs and pitched the complete game with eight strikeouts. Jacobsz led the team in base hits with two, reached on a walk and earned a run. A. DeMayo roped a double as she scored a run and walked in her 1-2 day. Golden West sit at fourth in the OEC with two more regular season games remaining. 

UP NEXT: Golden West remains home for the middle game against Orange Coast on Tuesday, April 23rd. First pitch will be at 2pm.