Comets sweep defending champs

SAN MARCOS, CA (2/11/2023) -- After a slow start to the season for the Comets, starting the week 2-2, Palomar dropped a game to Saddleback College in a rematch of last season's SoCal Regional Final before taking on the defending CCCAA State Champions, Riverside City College, for a two-game series in which the Comets swept the Tigers 7-1 on Friday night and 11-10 in a nailbiter on Saturday afternoon.

On Saturday, the Comets found themselves down 6-1 heading into the fourth inning. Sophomore Kyle Harvey homered to drive in two runs and sophomore Caden Szuba singled to drive in another to cut the Tigers' lead to two runs. But it was the sixth inning where the Comets got the job done where they scored six runs on seven hits before even recording an out. Sophomore Tanner Lappin started the inning with a lead-off single. Then sophomore Erik Larsen singled. Freshman Luke Matthews then singled as the Comets elected to go station to station. That forced the Tigers to make a pitching change. Still working one base at a time, Szuba singled, followed by sophomores Jack Sanders and Quincy Scott. Sophomore Carter Hain walked as the Comets scored their fourth run of the inning. Harvey kept with the plan and had a two-run single. The Tigers made one more pitching change before recording their first out as the Comets then went down in order, but the damage was down. The Comets took an 11-6 lead into the seventh inning.

Riverside responded with four runs of their own before the Comet bullpen silenced them. Comet closing pitcher Mike Villani recorded the final two outs of the game as the Tiger batter lined one right at Villani for out number two of the inning and Villani tossed the ball to first to get the runner out as the Comets completed their first sweep of the season.

The offense has been quiet for the Comets this season, but the bats came to life as the Comets rolled past the Tigers with 20 total hits. The Comets also drew seven walks as they showed patience at the plate. On the defensive side of the game, the Comet pitching staff has shown it can be lights out at times. On Friday, starter Kyle Carr threw five innings where he allowed just four hits and recorded six strikeouts. Friday's staff allowed one run on five hits, a season-low and had a season-tying best 10 strikeouts. On Saturday, reliever Wyatt Hamro pitched 3.1 innings and didn't allow a single hit against the 12 batters he faced. He had four strikeouts and no walks. 

The Comets move to 4-3 overall and will be back at home on Tuesday as they host Orange Coast College. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m.