Gauchos hang 10 on Rustlers

The Saddleback softball team won its third game in the last four tries with a 10-0 win against Golden West College on Friday at the Saddleback softball diamond.  With the win, the Gauchos swept the season series from the Rustlers.

Saddleback dominated from the outset, scoring six times in the opening inning on way to an 8-run rule win.  The Gauchos scored all six runs with two outs in the inning, collecting five hits and a pair of walks while taking advantage of a defensive error along the way.  Saddleback had three straight doubles in the inning as Kacie Tatman, Shay Savoie and Aubrey Maher all doubled in runs in taking a big lead.

Saddleback added four more runs in the bottom half of the fourth inning.  The Gauchos had three hits in the inning as Golden West starter Angelica Garcia walked a batter and hit another.  Mikayla Mattocks made the score 10-0 with a line drive off of Garcia's glove that caromed into center field to score Tatman with the final run of the game.

Meanwhile, on the mound, McKenna Walton silenced the Golden West bats throughout.  Walton allowed four hits while striking out three in picking up her seventh win of the season. 

Saddleback improved to 7-17 overall and 3-12 in Orange Empire Conference play with the win.  The Gauchos will continue OEC play on Monday when they host Santiago Canyon College.  The Gauchos and Hawks are scheduled to start at 3:00 PM at the Saddleback softball diamond.