BASEBALL:  CLIPPED IN THE OEC OPENER

The Hornets opened up Orange Empire Conference-play with a heartbreaking 12-11 loss at the hands of Golden West College at home Tuesday.

Fullerton put up a valiant fight after going down 10-2 after the first four innings, but unfortunately they would fall just a run short.

FC got the ball rolling early scoring the first run of the game on a sacrifice fly to center field by Tate Brock that brought Ryan Aguirre across home plate.

GWC came up big in the third inning scoring six runs to take the lead. Anthony Marquez hit a double that hugged the left field line scoring Ezele Wicks and Nick Dayton. Logan Mahaffy knocked in a run on a single to right field scoring Marquez. With bases loaded, Jeremiah Vision doubled to right bringing Justin Bushell and Austin Schell in. Mahaffy came in for the sixth run on a wild pitch.

The Hornets got a run back in the third when Tate Brock ripped a single to center allowing Aguirre to score from second base.

The Rustlers dropped four more runs on Fullerton in the fourth. Schell clubbed a single to right scoring Wicks. Bushell followed with a hit to right bringing in Marquez. Mahaffey then knocked in Schell and Bushell on a hard hit single up the middle.

Down 10-2, the Hornets cut the lead down scoring four runs in their next batting series. Jake Hall got it started hitting a double to deep left center. He was knocked in by Jake Anderson who clipped one up the middle for a base hit. Monte Montenegro hit into a 6-3 groundout, but got the RBI scoring Anderson. Aguirre came up to bat scorching a single to center field scoring Jesse Hayes. Tate Brock hit one hard up the middle that brought Aguirre home.

Fullerton came back strong in the fifth putting up five runs on the board to take the lead at 11-10 advantage. With bases loaded Montenegro doubled to right field that brought Hayes and Anderson home. Aguirre ground out to short but gave Ivan Ramos the chance to score from third base. Hall worked the count with the bases loaded and walked in the game tying run (Montenegro). Anderson came up next and walked in Brock.

The Rustlers tied the game back up at 11 a piece in the top of the seventh on a Hornet error that gave Vision the opportunity to score from third base.

Golden West scored their twelfth-winning run in the eighth inning when Marquez hit a 3-4 SAC bunt that brought Padilla home.

Up Next: The Hornets (8-8 overall) will play game two of the three-game series at Golden West College on Thursday, March 8th at 2:00 pm. 

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