Golden West Comes From Behind; Wins, 10-8, over host Riverside City in Eight Innings Monday

RIVERSIDE -- The Golden West College (GWC) Rustlers scored six runs in the top of the seventh and then added two in the eighth and came from behind to post an improbable 10-8 Orange Empire Conference (OEC) victory over the host Riverside City College (RCC) Tigers women's softball team Monday (Apr. 20) evening at Brown Field (Evans Sports Complex).
 
Golden West (7-30 overall, 3-17 OEC/seventh place) watched as RCC scored five runs in the sixth inning -- four of which came on a grand slam home run by Michelle Paul -- to take an 8-2 lead heading into the top of the seventh inning.

But the Rustlers bounced back to score six in the seventh and then scored twice in the eighth to cap comeback at 10-8. The Rustlers, who have hit only two home runs in their first 36 games, hit two in the game to aid the comeback.

Frosh reserve RF Sarah Avila (Westminster) socked a two-run roundtripper to get GWC going in the seventh, cutting the deficit to 8-4. Later, with two on and two out, frosh 1B Melissa Aguirre (Chino) doubled down the left-field line to chase home two more Rustlers and tie the game at 8-8.

Frosh RHP Randi Fehser (Fountain Valley), who came on in relief in the sixth after Paul's grand slam, smacked a two-run to left field in the top of the eighth to give Golden West the 10-8 lead. Fehser pitched the final 2-2/3 innings and allowed three hits and one walk to earn her first victory (1-2).

RCC starting frosh RHP Magen Luna (A.B. Miller HS) went the first 7-1/3 innings and allowed 13 hits, ten runs (all earned), walked nine and struck out five and received the loss (6-12).

Paul, a sophomore CF from Corona (Norco HS), went three for three, scored twice and drove in the four runs via the slam. Sophomore 3b Ashlee Gutierrez (Rialto / Carter HS) went three for five for RCC.

Both teams conclude OEC action on Wednesday, Apr. 22, starting at 3 p.m. GWC hosts the Fullerton College Hornets and RCC will visit the Cypress College Chargers in the regular season finales for all clubs.

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