Huntington Beach, Calif. - The Golden West baseball team and Irvine Valley College might be sixth and fourth, respectively, in the standings in the Orange Empire Conference but after slow starts for each club, the squads are two of the hottest in the OEC.

The Rustlers have won seven of eight games going into Tuesday's four-game series and the Lasers had won nine of its last 12 games coming into the opener at Golden West.

The Lasers may have gotten the early lead but Golden West had answers and then held on in the ninth for a 8-6 victory.

Golden West won its eighth game in its last nine contests and improved its record to 9-12 overall and 4-9 in conference while Irvine Valley moved to 9-10-2 overall and 8-8 in the OEC.

Sebastian Orduno got the Rustlers on the board in the bottom of the fifth inning when we smacked an RBI double that one hopped the center field fence. Logan Gallina then followed Orduno's double with a sacrifice fly to right field to cut the Lasers lead in half, 4-2. 

Golden West took the lead for good in the bottom half of the sixth inning when they plated five runs on four hits and forcing the Laser's to go to the bullpen. 

Irvine Valley made it interesting in the ninth inning as they left the bases loaded to end the game. Jackson Lapiner earned the save in the Rustler's 8-6 series opening victory. 

NEXT: Golden West will host game two of the series on Thursday, May 20th with a 2pm first pitch.