Huntington Beach, CA - Golden West baseball (5-3) began a three-game series with the Glendale Vaqueros (3-2) with a win, 15-10.
On Wednesday afternoon, the Rustlers came out swinging with a high power offense. After the home team shut down the Vaqueros bats, Golden West went to work to score early. The Rustlers conducted a huge two out rally in the bottom of the first frame off of four hits. Jack Salmon got his team on the board first with an RBI knock that scored Dylan Lina. JJ Robles would mirror Salmon with his own RBI hit to put Golden West up, 2-0. A wild pitch and an RBI hit from Robert Castillo capped the scoring with four runs, 4-0.
Glendale responded with two runs in the third to make it a close game, 4-2. The Rustlers answered back to regain the momentum with an RBI knock from Andrew Kirchner, 5-2. In the fourth, Zech Samayoa stepped up to the plate and annihilated the ball for a two-run home run to add insurance for the home squad. Salmon followed with a monstrous long ball to make it back-to-back home runs, 8-2.
The Vaqueros did not go down easy as they tallied two runs in the fifth frame with a two run home run of their own. Ayden Garcia slapped in a run with two outs to get a run back. For the fifth, Salmon would again swing a heavy bat with a solo blast for his second home run of the game to solidify double digit runs on the scoreboard, 10-4.
To make it a four run game, Glendale crossed two more runs before Golden West exploded in the bottom of the seventh. With bases loaded, Lina smacked a grand slam over the high left field wall to put an exclamation in the afternoon, 14-6. The Rustlers would score one more run from an error while on the base paths. Glendale threatened in the eighth inning with three runs and one in the ninth but it was too little too late for their offense. Golden West secured the high scoring victory, 15-10.
Salmon had an incredible day as he went 3-4, three RBI's and three runs scored from his two home run day. Lina also went yard with his two hits and four RBI showing while Samayoa launched a home run to earn two runs batted in. JJ Robles started and collected the win with 2.0 frames pitched and one strikeout. Grant Faris finished the ninth with a strikeout to help the Rustlers win their sixth game.
UP NEXT: The Rustlers will travel to Glendale for their next two matchups against the Vaqueros. The double-header event will take place on Friday, February 16th. First pitch will be at 1pm.
