Makana makes magic with home run

SAN MARCOS, CA (5/9/2024) -- The Palomar College baseball team defeated Cuesta College 8-7 in 10 innings on Thursday afternoon to open their Super Regional play.

Cuesta, who faced Mt. San Antonio College in game one, was facing elimination from the postseason. The Cougars jumped out to a 2-0 lead. The Comets were able to cut that lead in half when Colby Rafail had a sac fly to score Elijah Cook in the fourth inning. The Cougars roared to life in the fifth with a five-run inning to take a 7-1 lead. Down, but not out, the Comets slowly chipped away at the Cougar lead and got three runs back in the sixth after a quick top of the inning by Ian Mowad. 

But the real story here is the eighth inning. Down 7-5 after a solo shot by Patrick McLellan in the seventh, Rafail had a lead-off walk to open the eighth. Noah Lazuka also walked to get two baserunners with no one out. After a strikeout by Makana Olaso, Anthony Pacino stepped to the plate. He then singled to score both Rafail and Lazuka to tie the game at seven a piece. 

Noah Waldeck entered the game in the top of the eighth in relief for Holden Carpenter. He made quick work of the Cougars to get the Comets back to the plate. He continued his dominant performance in the top of the ninth to set it up for the Comets to win it. After another lead-off walk, this time by McLellan, the Comets failed to bring in a run. So to the tenth, they went for bonus playoff baseball.

Waldeck struck out two Cougars and got another to fly out to a quick 1-2-3 inning. After working the pitcher, Lazuka eventually grounded out for out number one. Enter the Home Run King Olaso.

Olaso launched his 19th four-bagger of the season directly at the flag poles in right-centerfield to give the Comets the win.

Despite the seven runs Moward gave up, he worked six innings and struck out three. Carpenter then came in to pitch the seventh and allowed one hit. Waldeck pitched three scoreless innings with five strikeouts. 

Palomar will face Mt. SAC tomorrow at 1 p.m. in what is now a regular best-of-three series between the Comets and Mounties.