Comets rebound behind Aguilar one-hitter

TORRANCE, CA (2/19/2020) – Sophomore pitcher Cat Aguilar twirled a one-hit shutout as the Palomar College softball team bounced back from its loss against two-time defending state champion Mt. San Antonio to post a 6-0 nonconference road victory against El Camino.

Aguilar faced just two batters over the minimum while improving her record to 5-0 on the season. She had two walks and six strikeouts, including striking out the side in the seventh to seal the Comets' eighth win against two losses.

The only hit allowed by Aguilar was a leadoff single in the second inning by Mina Nakawake.

Palomar took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning on a two-out, RBI single by sophomore first baseman Rylee Penrod which scored sophomore catcher Kendall Kates, who had a leadoff single. The score remained 1-0 until the Comets added to the lead with one run in the sixth on a RBI triple to right field by freshman second baseman Ayiana Hernandez which scored freshman pinch-runner Serenity Burroughs.

A four-run seventh ignited by a leadoff single by freshman center fielder Ryenne Stehly put the game out of reach. The late rally was fueled by four walks and a hit batsman as El Camino fell to 5-3 on the season.

Penrod was 3-for-4 at the plate with two RBI, and Stehly was 2-for-3 as the Comets collected eight hits.

Palomar is on the road again on Saturday, Feb. 22, for the JC College Classic at Rosetta Canyon Sports Park in Lake Elsinore. The Comets will face Fresno City at 11 a.m. and Riverside City at 1:30 p.m.