Comets split opening series with Rustlers

COSTA MESA, CA (1/26/2024) -- The 2024 Comet Baseball team opened their season with a 7-1 win over Golden West College on Friday. 

Palomar was able to scored all seven runs without a single extra-base hit. Instead, the Comets took advantage of five Rustlers errors. Batting leadoff, Luke Matthews went 4-5 on the day with an RBI and two runs. Third baseman Ryan Rivera was 2-4, with a walk and two runs, while catcher Hunter Stencil went 2-4 with an RBI and a run. 

The Comet pitching staff held the Rustlers to their one run all game. Starter Eric Van Valkenburg pitched four and allowed the one run on four hits. He struck out three. Cade Johnson came in as relief and pitched one inning in which he recorded two strikeouts and allowed one hit. Noah Waldeck pitched three innings and allowed just two hits, walked two and struck out six against the 13 batters he faced. Cameron Rowe closed out the game and struck out two of three batters. 

Palomar then hosted Golden West on Saturday and lost 4-2 in 10 innings to split the season-opening series. The Comet bats struggled to get going, but Noah Lazuka and Colby Rafail found a way to 2-3 and a walk for both. Rafail also recorded a run in the third.

Ryan Herrod got the nod as the starter and he did not disappoint. In four innings pitched, he allowed a homerun on two hits and struck out six of the 14 batters he faced. Ian Mowad followed him and threw for two innings in which he allowed one run on a single hit and walked two. Brandon Bollerer pitched one lights out inning, getting the Rustlers to go down in order. Evan Langer was the closing pitcher and in three innings, he allowed two runs on three hits and recorded one strikeout.

Palomar opens their season 1-1 and will travel to Glendale College on Wednesday for a 4 p.m. first pitch. They will then play a series against Fullerton College on Friday and Saturday, weather permitting.