Comets back in action with shutout of Southwestern
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Palomar | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 11 | 0 |
|
Southwestern | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
CHULA VISTA, CA. (3/24/2023) – Returning to the field following another lengthy layoff, the top-ranked Palomar College softball team resumed its winning ways Friday with a 4-0 victory at Southwestern College.
The game was the first in nine days for the Comets, who have been repeatedly sidelined this season by inclement weather and unplayable field conditions. Palomar was scheduled to be in action again on Saturday at Mt. San Antonio College as part of a nonconference three-way with the No. 5-ranked Mounties and Santiago Canyon which was re-scheduled from Feb. 25 due to rain.
Friday's game at Southwestern was originally scheduled to be played at Bradley Park in San Marcos, but soggy field conditions there forced the detour south to Chula Vista. Palomar remained unbeaten for the season at 16-0 overall and 4-0 in Pacific Coast Athletic Conference play as sophomore right-hander India Caldwell pitched her seventh shutout of the season to improve her record to 12-0.
Caldwell allowed four hits and was supported by an 11-hit attack which included two hits apiece by sophomore second baseman Malachy Russell-Millen, freshman third baseman Itzell De Los Rios (Olympian HS) and sophomore catcher Ellison Hazlett.
A two-out RBI single by De Los Rios scored sophomore designated player Aaliyah Rivas with Palomar's first run in the top of the first inning, and a leadoff single by Hazlett ignited a three-run rally in the fourth inning which included a run-scoring double by sophomore left fielder Jonessa Hebreo.
Caldwell struck out eight batters and issued only one walk while lowering her season ERA to 0.38 with her seven innings of work in the pitching circle. The shutout was the 11th of the season by the Palomar pitching staff and the second in two games against the Jaguars.
The Comets have a rescheduled PCAC game against San Diego City on March 27 at Bradley Park, a 2 p.m. contest which was originally slated for March 17. Palomar also had its March 14 home game against Mt. SAC washed away, and that nonconference contest has been rescheduled and relocated for April 8 in Walnut.