Quick start lifts Comets past Mesa

SAN DIEGO, CA (3/4/2020) – A four-run first inning was all Palomar College needed as the Comets remained unbeaten in Pacific Coast Athletic Conference softball play with a 5-3 victory over San Diego Mesa.

A two-run triple by freshman shortstop Samarah Martinez highlighted the first-inning outburst, which began with sophomore catcher Kendall Kates being hit by a pitch. Palomar padded its lead to 5-0 in the top of the third when sophomore third baseman Shea Lane hit a sacrifice fly to left field to score freshman designated player Raquel Moore, who was aboard via a fielder's choice.

A two-run home run by Mesa center fielder Kaleigh Lane put the Olympians on the scoreboard in the bottom of the third, and Lane singled in the fifth and scored ahead of a two-out single by catcher Andrea Wright to cut the deficit to 5-3, but there was no scoring by either squad over the final two frames.

Martinez was 2-for-4 at the plate with a triple and a single, and Kates was 2-for-3 with a double and a single as the Comets collected eight hits.

Palomar played errorless defense behind two pitchers. Sophomore Catalina Aguilar (9-1) started and picked up the win with four innings in the circle. She allowed two runs on three hits with two walks and two strikeouts. Freshman Alyssa Domingo recorded the save with three innings of work, allowing one run on three hits with no walks and one strikeout.

Palomar, ranked No. 6 in the state, improved to 3-0 in the PCAC and 14-3 overall. The Olympians fell to 1-1 and 11-6.

The Comets have another Pacific Coast Athletic Conference game on Friday, March 6, at home against Imperial Valley at 1 p.m., before hosting El Camino in a nonconference matchup on Saturday, March 7, at 11 a.m.