Huntington Beach, Calif. – The Rustlers pulled away from the visiting Cypress College Chargers (15-4, 3-1) to earn their first OEC conference game 10-3 Monday afternoon.

Golden West (13-7, 1-3) found themselves in a little bit of trouble in the top of the first inning as starting pitcher JD Rodriguez surrendered an RBI double but settled in after that. Rodriguez had one of his best starts of the season going six innings while surrendering two runs on five hits and striking out eight.

The offense got things going in the middle innings plating a run in the third, two in the fourth, and three in the fifth inning to hold a 6-2 lead. Rocco Caballero tied the game 1-1 with an RBI single to left field in the third inning. The Rustlers showed plate discipline in the fourth inning to push two runs across on a Matt Gaunt hit by pitch and Matthew Olivares sac-fly to center field. Dylan Kordic smacked a single to right field in the fifth inning to plate two runs and then Dylan Lina rounded out the scoring in the fifth inning with a single to center field.

Ayden Garcia highlighted the eighth inning with a three-run homerun over the right field fence to essential put this game away.

The Rustlers plan on traveling to Cypress on Thursday, March 16 for game two of the series with a 2pm first pitch.