Huntington Beach, CA - Golden West softball (11-6, 5-4 OEC) wins final home non-conference game against Compton College (15-10, 6-6 SCC), 7-6.
On an overcast Tuesday, the Rustlers held their final non-conference home game of the regular season against Compton College. The visiting Compton bats put damage on the board in their first opportunity. Off of three hits, Compton scored two and took the early lead, 0-2.
In the bottom of the first inning, Golden West immediately responded to tie the game. Sophia Herrera led it off with a single for her team and later scored from a Shelby Jacobsz double, 1-0. Sara Aguilar roped a ball down the third base line for an RBI double that knotted the game back up, 2-2.
Herrera again led off with a single and found herself at third base from a costly throwing error by the Compton catcher. Jacobsz lifted a blooper single just over the glove of the second baseman to earn the Rustlers first lead of the afternoon, 3-2. An inning later, Compton retook the advantage with two runs in the fourth, 3-4. Compton extended their lead with two runs in the fifth, 4-6.
Ducks on the pound for Herrera, she was able to knock in one with an RBI single through the left side, 5-6. Maya Magadaleno crossed home on a first and third mistake by the Compton defense to tie the game, 6-6. Desyree Arizmendi came in to the seventh and shut the door. To prevent any further base runners, Aguilar made a head first diving catch in left field for the second out of the inning. The game went into extra innings as both teams fought hard.
The game entered the bottom of the eighth inning as the Rustlers looked to finish it with a win. Candice DeMaoy led off the inning with a hit by pitch and Herrera reached on an error by Compton. Oral Keys did her job as she placed a sacrifice bunt down to advance the runners and put the winning run on third. Jacobsz stepped up to the plate and ripped a line drive to right center field for the walk-off victory, 7-6.
Herrera was all over the diamond as she went 4-5 with two runs scored and an RBI. Jacobsz also went 4-5 with a run scored and four RBIs. Natalie Tonche started the game in the circle and pitched six innings with a strikeout. Arizmendi finished the game with her two frames in relief and earned the win with her three strikeouts. Golden West won their final non-conference home game with one non-OEC game remaining on the schedule.
UP NEXT: The Rustlers will be on the road for their final non-conference matchup at East Los Angeles on Wednesday, March 27th. First pitch will be at 5:30pm.
