Huntington Beach, Calif. - Rustler Baseball walked away from Hoover Field with a series loss on Friday as they fell to Riverside 5-4. 

After nearly getting shut out 10-1 on the road by Riverside, Golden West looked to take the series at home on Friday. Although this did not end up being the case, the Rustlers beat the Tigers in getting on the board first after catcher Adam Arroyo sent a ball over the fence for a two-run home run, his fifth home run of the season, in the bottom of the first inning. 

The next run scored by the Rustlers was in the third inning, and it belonged to center fielder Jonah Sebring who hit a solo home run to left field. 

With three outs left in the game, the Rustlers turned to pinch hitting in hopes of either forcing the first set of extra innings this team has seen all season, or ending this game in walk-off fashion. Shortstop Steven Casas led off the inning with a huge triple to right center field. Entering the game for third baseman Miles Jenkins, Noah Estrem grounded out to the shortstop, while earning an RBI as Casas scored on the throw. 

First baseman Dylan Kordic singled into left field, followed by an intentional walk issued to Jonah Sebring to set up a storybook ending. Unfortunately, the storybook ending did not work out for this Rustler team, after a ground out hit to second base by Matthew Olivares ended a close game. 

Johnnie Valdez Jr. started the game and saw 27 Riverside batters through six innings. When Valdez Jr. left the mound, his line of work read as seven hits, three runs, two walked batters, and four strikeouts, leaving the game tied 3-3. 

Riverside batters saw three Rustler arms out of the bullpen, but this 5-4 loss ultimately fell on the shoulders of reliever Marco Ibarra who gave up a go-ahead two-run home run in the seventh inning. 

NEXT: The Rustlers will take a break from conference play to face the Barstow Vikings in a two-game series starting on Tuesday at Hoover Field. Game time is scheduled for 2 p.m.

Written By Marissa Lavezzari