SANTA ANA – The Dons fell behind 7-0 to visiting Golden West College and were unable to recover as they lost their third straight game 9-7 in Orange Empire Conference competition. The loss drops the Dons to 11-6-1 overall and 2-3 in conference while Golden West improves to 10-8 overall and 2-3 in conference.

The Rustlers scored six runs in the third inning on four hits while taking advantage of a SAC error and a pair of walks. The big hit of the inning belonged to Jordan Lucio who hit a two-run double that plated Dillon Persinger and James Stea. Stea drove in Golden West's next run in the fifth inning with a sacrifice fly that scored Gianni Castillo who led the inning off with a single.

The Dons finally generated some offense in the sixth inning with Jesus Saldana hitting a leadoff single before Cameron Baranek drew a walk. After a Tanner Negrette single loaded the bases, Alex Mascarenas hit a two-run single that scored Saldana and Baranek.

Two innings later, Frankie Nogales plated Negrette with a sacrifice fly to make the score 7-3 before Golden West added a pair of runs in the top of the ninth to make the final score 9-3.

Grant Wilhelm (0-2) took the loss for the Dons as he allowed four runs, three earned, on three hits in just 2.1 innings. A.J. Dean (3-1) got the win for the Rustlers after holding the Dons to two runs on four hits in 5.2 innings of work. Alec Harris (2) came in to the game with the bases loaded in the eighth and didn't allow a single hit while pitching the final two innings to earn the save.