Huntington Beach, Calif. – The Golden West Rustlers take game 1 of a best of three series against Saddleback College in the second round of the playoffs.

The Rustlers went down 0-2 in the top of the third inning when Dylan Diaz got on base with a single and Saddleback's Brett Barker hit a ball to deep right field for a triple and that drove in Diaz.  Cole Stanton hit a chip shot to short right field that drove in Barker to put the Gauchos up 2-0.

Golden West would strike back with 2 outs in the bottom of the third when James Stea hit a single, then stole second.  Dillion Persinger walked and it ended up that an error by Saddlebacks' 3^rd baseman allowed the Rustlers to even the score 2-2.

In the bottom of the 5^th, Jordan Lucio hit a solo shot to deep left field to put Golden West up 3-2.

Saddleback was able to make it a ball game in the top of the 9^th when the Rustlers had a moment of laps judgment where a botched pick off attempt allowed Saddleback's Alex King to advance to 3^rd base and a sacrifice ground ball by Jack Kaloogian tied the game 3-3. 

But it was all Rustlers in the bottom of the 9^th.  Michael Fuchs singled, and Tyler Depretatto hit a sacrifice ground ball to advance him to second.  James Stea lined one out to the pitcher for the second out of the inning.  Persinger walked.  And with two outs, two on in the bottom of the 9^th, Chris Williams hit a three run walk off home run to end the game and give the Rustlers the 6-3 win and a 1-0 series lead.

Golden West and Saddleback will be back in action tomorrow, Saturday, May 9, 2015 at 12:00pm for Game 2 of the best of 3 series.