Huntington Beach, CA - Golden West baseball (30-12, 15-6 OEC) won their first round series against the San Diego City Knights (22-20, 12-13 PCAC) on Saturday, 14-6.
The Rustlers faced off with the Knights for game two of the three-game postseason series. Golden West took the first game against San Diego City on Friday in a shutout performance victory, 6-0. Alex Ramos shined with a complete game shutout win as the offense was carried by two solo blasts from Kaleb Duncan and Ayden Garcia. Though all three games would be hosted at Golden West College, the middle game would switch sides and have the Knights as the home team.
On Saturday morning, San Diego City flipped the script early as they scored first. As the runner went with a 3-2 count and two outs, a bloop single scored the first run for the Knights of the series, 0-1. After three quiet frames, the Rustlers managed to take their first lead of the game in the fourth. Zech Samayoa legged out a triple to put the tying run 90 feet away. Andrew Kirchner stepped up to the plate and roasted the ball for a no-doubt monster home run over the right field fence to take the lead for Golden West, 2-1. In the bottom of the fourth, San Diego City retook the edge with five runs off of five hits, 2-6.
In the sixth inning, the Rustlers made a comeback in a hurry as Duncan led off the frame with a single. Garcia followed with a walk to put two runners on for the big bat of Samayoa. With one swing, the designated hitter made it a one run game as he destroyed the ball for a no-doubt shot over the high left field wall for a three-run home run, 5-6. Dylan Lina kept the offense alive as he smashed the ball against the left field wall to just miss a home run but stroll in for a standup double. On a heads up play by Lina, the third baseman advanced on a pass ball in the dirt to put himself 90 feet away. Jack Salmon did his job and put the ball deep enough into left field to tie the score with a sacrifice fly out, 6-6.
Golden West looked to take a late game lead and that is exactly what they did in the seventh. Garcia worked the count for his second walk of the afternoon. Samayao put the team on his back and lifted the ball over the high left field wall for his second home run of the day, 8-6. In the eighth inning, the Rustlers bats unleashed a fury of offense on the Knights. Rocco Caballero smacked a RBI single that scored Jack Salmon to extend the advantage to three, 9-6. On a stolen base, San Diego City threw the ball away which allowed a Golden West baserunner to score, 10-6. Dom Porter bunted for a hit and a second throwing error gave way for the runners to advance and scored Caballero, 11-6. Porter later scored on a wild pitch as the inning fell apart for the Knights, 12-6. To cap the offense, Samayao demolished his third home run of the game to left field, 13-6. In the ninth, Salmon hit yet another triple and scored on a Robert Castillo fielder's choice RBI, 14-6. The host team held their strong lead in the bottom of the ninth to win the second game and the series against San Diego City, 14-6.
Samayao had a highlight day as he parked three home runs for six RBIs, four runs scored in his 4-5 day. Behind him was Kirchner who also launched a home run for two RBIs, one run with his 2-5 appearance. Salmon hit a triple for the second consecutive day as he went 2-4 with two runs and a RBI. Smith started for the Rustlers with his four innings pitched and struck out four. AJ Hernandez came in for an inning of relief and did his job. JD Rodriguez took the load as he came in for four frames, struck out five and kept the Knights scoreless. The Rustlers won and won big to take the first round of the 3C2A postseason bracket against the Knights. San Diego City's season has come to an end while Golden West advances to the second round.
UP NEXT: Golden West has defeated San Diego City Knights and will now advance to the second round of the 3C2A postseason bracket. Times, dates and location will be announced at a later time.
