Huntington Beach, Calif. - The Golden West softball team remains in search of their first Orange Empire Conference win after being shutout 9-0 by Fullerton College on Wednesday. 

Multiple defensive errors in the top of the first inning assisted the Hornets in taking an early lead over the Rustlers. After two errors by returning shortstop Cieanna Parker-Islas and an offensive single, the Hornets scored two unearned runs with no outs on the board. The Hornets went on to score three more runs that inning, increasing their lead 5-0. 

Hoping to change the tide of the game, the coaching staff reminded the team that there was a lot more softball left to be played before taking any at-bats. 

"I went over there and I told them it was just a game," Assistant Coach Alan Caouette siad. "You gotta go out and play [and] get rid of the negative distractions out there." 

Outfielder Natalie Rodriguez went on to hit a single in the bottom half of the inning, being called out on the next play after Sennie Viramontes grounded into a double play. Jazmine Rodriguez and Sara Carpio recorded the last two hits of the game for the Rustlers with singles in the late innings, but had no success in reaching home.

With nine active players on the roster, the Rustlers were left with a very slim margin for error. It also meant pitcher Viramontes had to hold her own through all seven innings, in which she did not disappoint the coaching staff. 

"I think she did absolutely perfect," Caouette said. "She executed the game plan we had in place – she got ground balls, and unfortunately we made some defensive miscues. She pitched exactly how we wanted her to." 

The Rustlers must put this loss behind them, focusing on the hard hit balls and pitching performance, in order to earn their first win in conference play. 

"We gotta get back to the practice field tomorrow [and] take the positives from today," Caouette said. "Reinforce the positive things, move forward with that, and flush the negative stuff away." 

Interview with Assistant Coach Alan Caouette

NEXT: The Rustlers will head over to Orange Coast College to take on the Pirates Friday at 2 p.m. 

Written By: Marissa Lavezzari