Dons down Rustlers, 4-3

BASEBALL.

Santa Ana College vs. Golden West College
Saturday, March 5, 2011

Andy Peterson’s seventh inning RBI double plated the deciding run as the Dons’ narrowly escaped a late inning Golden West College rally.

Peterson went 2 for 4 with a double and RBI, leading the Dons past the visiting Rustlers, 4-3.

“I was looking fastball, got the big loopy curveball, kept my hands in and turned on it,” Peterson said. On a one-one count, Peterson turned on an inside curveball and laced a double down the left field line, scoring Uriel Salinas from second.

Right fielder Gary Apelian added a sixth inning solo shot off Golden West’s starting pitcher, Mike Syrett. The pitch came in a two-one count. Apelian unloaded on a down and in change-up and crushed the ball over the left field fence. “I’ve been seeing the ball real well, and I was looking for something I could drive,” he said. Apelian went 2 for 3 with a HR, RBI, a walk, and a run scored.

The Dons scored in three different innings to win the game 4-3.

In the second inning the Dons scored two runs on three hits, no errors, and stranded one runner on base. First basemen Kyle Kuck, and shortstop Trevor Magno hit RBI singles to right.

1-2-3 third and fourth innings by both teams sped the pace of the game.

Golden West attempted a comeback in the fifth inning, scoring two runs with two outs. Dons’ starting pitcher Ruben Orosco gave up back-to-back singles. He then threw a wild pitch advancing the runners to second and third. Rustlers’ center fielder Donald Sneed hit a line drive into centerfield scoring two.

Orosco lasted 6 2/3 innings, striking out six, walking one, and surrendering five hits and two runs.

Don Sneddon now has 997 in his chase for 1,000. The win put the Dons at 9-5 overall, and 2-0 in the Orange Empire Conference.