Huntington Beach, Calif. – Golden West found themselves one out away from opening Orange Empire Conference play with a mercy rule five inning loss, instead they turned it into a 15-14 walk-off win against visiting Santiago Canyon College Wednesday afternoon.
The Rustlers were down 10-5 heading to the fifth inning and surrendered three runs in the top half of the inning that would enact the 8-run mercy rule after five innings. Brooklyn Gregory got the bottom half of the fifth going with a leadoff single to centerfield. Then Golden West would record two quick outs before their plate discipline provided the lift they needed. The next four batters would work walks to score the first run in the inning to end the mercy rule shortened game. The offense exploded for seven runs in total with a bases clearing double to left center field by leadoff hitter Aolani Sua and then a few batters later Gregory would cash in on a two RBI triple to right center field.
The Rustlers made it a one run game at 13-12 heading into the sixth inning where both teams were held scoreless. Then onto the dramatics of the seventh inning where the Hawks plated one run to extend their lead to 14-12.
The offense got things started when Cat Lussier reached on an error and then Orla Keys worked hard for her walk for two on base with no outs. This turned off the lineup to the top of the order where Sua hit single up the middle for bases loaded. Isabella Green tallied an RBI infield single to the shortstop to make it a one run game with arguably the hottest hitter for the Rustlers. Gregory stepped up to the plate and smacked a walk-off two RBI single to centerfield to cap off the amazing comeback.
Sua was a solid three-for-five at the plate with five RBI's and three runs scored, Green went two-for-five with three runs scored and one RBI, and Gregory went three-for-five with four RBI's.
Sua also started in the circle for Golden West but it was reliever Sennie Viramontes earning the win in relief throwing 2.1 innings of three hit ball allowing one run while striking out two and walking one.
Golden West is back in action tomorrow when they travel to Rio Hondo for a 2:30pm start