HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif. – The Golden West College Rustlers capped off a dominant three-game sweep of the Irvine Valley College Lasers with a commanding 12-5 victory on Saturday, opening Orange Empire Conference play with a perfect 3-0 record.
With this win, Heach Coach Drew Ramos earned his 100th career victory with Golden West College.
Golden West's offense exploded for 17 hits, led by Jonny Rodriguez and Bryan Martinez, who each drove in multiple runs to pace the Rustlers. Martinez had a standout performance, going 4-for-5 with four RBIs, including a solo home run in the fifth inning.
Irvine Valley struck first in the opening inning with a bases-loaded walk to take a 1-0 lead, but Golden West quickly responded with four runs in the bottom half of the frame. Dennis Fitzpatrick drew a bases-loaded walk to bring in the tying run, and Cole Belfanti's fielder's choice bunt allowed another run to cross. Martinez followed with a two-run single to put the Rustlers ahead 4-1.
The Lasers made it interesting in the second, as Jake Amundson launched a three-run home run to left field, capping a four-run inning that gave Irvine Valley a brief 5-4 lead. However, the Rustlers wasted no time regaining control, as Roman Meyers' groundout in the bottom half of the inning brought home the tying run.
Golden West broke the game open in the third with a three-run outburst. Kevin Villegas doubled home a run, Zack Burrow stole third and scored on an error, and Rodriguez drove in another run with a groundout to make it 8-5.
From there, the Rustlers continued to add on, with Martinez launching his solo homer in the fifth, Fitzpatrick scoring on an error in the sixth, and Rodriguez singling home another run in the seventh. Martinez capped the scoring in the eighth with his fourth RBI of the game, driving in Fitzpatrick with a single to left.
On the mound, Golden West utilized seven pitchers, with Jake Ferretti (1-0) earning the win after throwing 2.2 innings of relief, allowing four runs while striking out two. The bullpen shut down the Lasers the rest of the way, surrendering just one hit over the final six innings. Matt Futami closed out the ninth inning with three strikeouts to seal the victory.
NEXT: Golden West will travel to Riverside City College on Tuesday, March 11 for game one of the three game series with a 2pm start.
