Palomar dominant in sweep of Mesa

SAN MARCOS, CA (3/18/2023) -- A week of rainouts resulted in a doubleheader for the Palomar College Comets and San Diego Mesa College Olympians on Saturday afternoon and the Comets sweep the opening series with a 22-3 game one victory and 23-4 game two routing of the Olympians.

In game one, the Comets took a 1-0 lead after one inning and opened the scoring floodgates in the second. After a leadoff flyout, shortstop Erik Larsen worked a walk, followed catcher Hunter Stencil. Outfielder Colby Rafail then had a RBI double. Rightfielder Jack Sanders then walked to load the bases. Following a pitching change, centerfielder Quincy Scott had an RBI single and kept the bases loaded with one out. The Comets played station to station scoring as DH Carter Hain and thirdbaseman Kyle Harvey both singled to take a 5-0 lead. With the bases still loaded, second baseman Noah Lazuka was hit by a pitch, which plated the run by Scott. Then all the runners advanced on a balk as the Comets now led 7-0. Batting around, first baseman Tanner Lappin then walked to reloead the bases. Larsen then reached on a fielder's choice on a wild throw and Harvey scored. Stencil then reached on another fielder's choice and Lazuka scored for the eighth and final run of the inning. They recorded eight runs on four hits. 

Mesa got lessened the Comet lead with a 2-run shot to leftfield in the fourth inning, but the Comet's weren't done yet. They tacked on four more in the sixth and another six in the seventh and two more in the eighth. Mesa got one more run in the ninth for a final score of 22-3.

The Comet scoring onslaught didn't let up in game two. They jumped out to a 7-0 lead after two and tacked on three more in the fifth and another three runs in the sixth. True to their style of play, the bats exploded in the eighth inning for 10 more runs. Mesa wouldn't go quietly though. They broke up the combined shutout in the ninth with four runs.

While the Comets scored a combined 45 runs in the two games, they showed patience at the plate and worked walks, played small and long ball and took many for the team. Between the two games, the Comets were hit by 12 pitches. The Olympians were hit by six. 

Comet ace Kyle Carr was the starter on the bump for game one. He went six innings and allowed two runs on five hits and recorded seven strikeouts. He moves to 6-1 on the season. Wyatt Hamro and Jack Kelley pitched the seventh and eighth innings and didn't allow a hit. Logan Herrera was the closer and allowed one run on two hits and recorded one strikeout. In game two, Pete Knorr was given the nod and went three innings. Evan Langer, Blake Ignaciak, Carson Hamro and Mike Villani came in relief and combined for five hits, two walks and six strikeouts. Reed Coffin was the closer in his first appearance this season. He allowed four runs on tow hits and walked two batters. 

Palomar moves to 15-5 overall and 7-0 in conference play. They will host Southwestern College on Tuesday afternoon, weather pending, for a 2 p.m. first pitch. The second game against Grossmont College has been rescheduled once more with no date yet.