HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif. – After losing to Cuesta in Game 1 in the first round of the playoffs, Golden West (25-14) won two straight games in dramatic fashion over Cuesta College to move on to the next round of the playoffs.

GAME 2: Golden West 14, Cuesta 8.

Trailing 5-1 heading into the seventh, the Rustlers put up an 11-run inning to edge out the Cougars in Game 1, 13-8.

Centerfielder James Stea went 4-for-6 with 2 rbi and three runs scored. Second baseman Dillon Persinger went 2-for-4, scoring two runs and driving in three on a three-run home run in the seventh inning.

The Rustlers' big inning consisted of 11 runs on just 6 hits with 2 errors committed by Cuesta. 

Ryan Kayoda started for the Rustlers and allowed five runs on five hits in four and a third innings of work. Josh Gogue (7-3) was the winning pitcher and allowed three runs on four hits.

GAME 3: Golden West 6, Cuesta 5.

Golden West was able to tally another come-from-behind victory, scoring two runs in the bottom eighth to, 6-5, and advance to the next round.

The Cougars scored early in the first on an rbi single by Kyle Raubinger, Trailing 1-0, The Rustlers scored three runs in the bottom fourth with two coming off a triple by designated hitter Gianni Castillo.

With the Rustlers down 5-4, Chris Williams led off with a single to begin the bottom eighth. Castillo then hit another triple to tie the ballgame 5-5. Kyle Moore followed with a one-out single to bring home Castillo and give the Rustlers the 6-5 lead.

Golden West pitcher Andrew Arledge held the Cougars scoreless in the top ninth to clinch the series for the Rustlers. Gianni Castillo finished with two triples and three runs batted in.

NEXT: Golden West will move on to face conference foe Saddleback in Round 2 of the playoffs. Golden West will host another best-2-out-of-3 starting on Friday, May 8, at 2:00 p.m. Game 2 will be on Saturday, May 9, at 2:00 p.m. and if necessary, Game 3 will be on Sunday, May 10, at 2:00 p.m.