Comets rally past Cerritos

NORWALK, CA. (2/3/2023) -- Palomar College overcame an early two-run deficit with a three-run second inning and the Comets went on to post a 4-2 softball victory Friday at Cerritos. 

The non-conference win was the third in as many games for the Comets, who were ranked No. 6 in the 3CFCA statewide preseason poll. The Comets moved up one spot to No. 5 after last week's wins over Pasadena City College and LA Mission College. 

Cerritos (2-2) opened the game with a pair of first-inning base hits, and both runners came around to score on a sacrifice fly and an RBI single. Palomar responded by plating three runs in the top of the second inning, which sophomore designated player Aaliyah Rivas led off with a solo home run, her first of the season. 

Freshman third baseman Itzell De Los Rios (Olympian HS) reached base on an infield error with one out, and she advanced to third on a two-out single by sophomore shortstop Elisa Haas. After Haas stole second base, sophomore center fielder Cadee Herrmann delivered a two-run single to give the Comets a 3-2 lead. 

Palomar added an insurance run in the third inning when freshman right fielder Faith Steffany (Rancho Buena Vista HS) hit a leadoff double to left field, advanced to third on a groundout and scored on a sacrifice fly to second base by sophomore catcher Ellie Hazlett. 

Sophomore pitcher India Caldwell settled in the circle after the first inning and blanked the Falcons on just one hit over the final six innings to earn her second win of the season. She retired 16 consecutive batters from the second through seventh innings and finished with six strikeouts and no walks. 

Rivas accounted for two of Palomar's five hits. 

The Comets, who had a home doubleheader against San Bernardino Valley postponed on Feb. 2 due to wet grounds, will be in action again with back-to-back home games at Bradley Park on Feb. 7 against College of the Desert and Feb. 8 against Saddleback. Both games start at 2 p.m.