Comets bounce back, blank Citrus

SAN MARCOS, CA (2/5/2020) – Bouncing back from its first defeat of the season, the Palomar College softball team scored an 8-0 nonconference victory over Citrus behind the combined shutout pitching of freshman Alyssa Domingo and sophomore Cat Aguilar.

Palomar (4-1) scored three runs in the bottom of the first inning and added five more in the fourth inning to bring about the eight-run mercy rule after five innings. Domingo started and pitched four shutout innings for her second win against one loss. She allowed three hits while striking out four batters with no walks.

Aguilar pitched one inning of relief with two strikeouts against the winless Owls (0-5).

Domingo helped her own cause with two hits at the plate, and she scored Palomar's first run ahead of a first-inning double by sophomore first baseman Rylee Penrod. A triple by sophomore designated player Samantha Renteria brought home Penrod, and Renteria scored on a sacrifice fly to right field by freshman shortstop Samarah Martinez.

The Comets' five-run rally in the fourth was sparked by RBI triples from sophomore catcher Kendall Kates, Domingo and Renteria. Domingo, Penrod and Renteria all finished with two hits apiece for the Comets, who finished with eight hits.

Palomar will be on the road on Saturday, Feb. 8, for a doubleheader at Antelope Valley before returning to San Marcos for home games on Tuesday, Feb. 11, against Fullerton (2 p.m.) and Friday, Feb. 14, against defending state champion Mt. San Antonio (noon).