Palomar Powers Past Golden West in Home Opener for Series Sweep
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Golden West | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 12 | 1 |
|
Palomar | 3 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | X | 10 | 11 | 2 |
SAN MARCOS, CA (1/25/2025) -- The Palomar College baseball team continued its strong start to the season on Saturday, completing a two-game sweep of Golden West College with a convincing 10-6 win in their home opener. The victory improved the Comets' record to 2-0, their best start since the 2019 season.
Palomar's offense came out swinging, putting up three runs in the first inning. AJ Klubeck reached base with a leadoff single, and Justin Tucker made the Rustlers pay with a towering two-run home run over the left-field fence. Adrian Macias added an RBI double later in the inning to extend the lead to 3-1.
The Comets exploded for six more runs in the second inning, seizing control of the game. Joshua Pinnell's RBI double and Macias' RBI single set the stage for catcher Hunter Stencil, who launched a two-run homer to put Palomar firmly in command at 8-1. The early offensive surge allowed the Comets to dictate the pace for the rest of the game.
Golden West managed to chip away at the deficit with runs in the seventh and eighth innings, but Palomar's pitching staff kept the damage to a minimum. Starter Brandon Bollerer provided a solid four-inning outing, allowing just one earned run. Jacob Imoto (1-0) delivered a stellar three-inning relief performance, striking out six while allowing no earned runs to earn the win. Joey Navarro and Chance Crawford closed out the game in the final two innings.
Pinnell was the standout performer at the plate, going 3-for-5 with a home run, double, and two RBIs. Tucker added a two-run homer and reached base twice, while Macias finished with two hits and two RBIs. Stencil's two-run blast highlighted a well-balanced attack that saw Palomar collect 11 hits and draw seven walks.
With back-to-back wins over Golden West, the Comets showcased both their offensive firepower and pitching depth to open the season. They will look to maintain their momentum next week as they continue non-conference play, aiming to build on their promising start.