Huntington Beach, CA - Golden West softball (0-1, 0-0 OEC) hosts the season opener against the Victor Valley Rams (1-0, 0-0 IEAC), 6-7.

Head Coach Mike Wiley and the Rustlers softball program kicked off the 2024 season Monday as the team hosted the Victor Valley Rams. With only five returning student-athletes, Golden West has a young cast of players across the diamond. It was an explosive start for the home team as they scored twice in their first opportunity. Leadoff hitter Candice DeMayo reached on a walk and later scored from a Shelby Jacobsz RBI single. Catcher Mackenzie King managed to knock in her own RBI single when Sofia Herrera crossed home, 2-0. 

Golden West would repeat in the second frame and score an additional two runs. On a stolen base from Mia Duda, Miriam Talstein was able to touch the plate from a throwing error. With Demayo still up, she roped a single to score Duda and make it a four run game. In the third, Orla Keys singled in Jacobsz to put the Rustlers up big, 5-0. However in the fourth, the Rams were able to put up five runs and tie the scoreboard. 

In the final inning, Victor Valley took a two run lead to make it 5-7. The Rustlers only scored one in the final frame and dropped the season opener, 6-7. King had a successful day at the plate as she went, 2-3 with an RBI hit. Jacobsz slapped two hits, earned an RBI and scored once. In the circle, Desyree Arizmendi started for 3.2 innings and struck out eight batters. Madison Kistler came in for 2.1 frames of relief while Natalie Tonche pitched the final inning. 

UP NEXT: The Rustlers will be home against San Diego on Friday, February 2nd. First pitch will be at 2pm.