Huntington Beach, Calif. - An undefeated Santa Ana squad (11-0) silenced the Rustlers (1-10) offense with a 2-0 win on Friday.

This was the second time the Rustler offense has faced Santa Ana's starting pitcher Emily Rosas this season. Their last match up ended in a 9-0 five-inning mercy rule, leaving the Rustlers with two hits. Despite this no-hitter upset for the Rustler team, Head Coach Mike Willey is pleased with their performance. 

"Pushing Santa Ana who is now 21-3, and having to lose a conference game 2-0 where we pretty much gave them the two runs, [we] should have been in extra innings playing ball right now," Willey said. "Obviously [I am] impressed with the defense, the pitching. We've got to play nearly perfect when we play teams like that, and we didn't but we are improving, so I am happy with that." 

The Rustlers had a scare during pregame when third baseman Sara Carpio took a fall during a fielding drill. After being slow to get up and having visible discomfort when putting weight on her foot, a visit was made from the athletic trainer and Carpio still made it onto the field in the starting rotation. Having players who can work through minor injuries is crucial for this Rustler team, which has 11 players and no room for injury. 

"I loved her performance. She's a bulldog," Willey said. "We need everybody to step up and players play hurt. They don't play injured, but they play hurt, and she showed that she can." 

As the Rustlers continue their search for a second win in conference play, the coaching staff remains hopeful they will continue making improvements each time they take the field. 

"I am a little concerned with taking hard losses like that. I don't want them to regress into what's happened here in the past," Willey said. "They have got to believe in each other, and step up and be leaders, owning up to the mistakes they made as well as celebrating each other." 

NEXT: Softball will travel to Riverside on Wednesday, March 30. Game time is set for 3 p.m. 

Written By Marissa Lavezzari