Comets ride big inning to 12-3 win over Jags

SAN MARCOS (4/19/2023) – Palomar College broke open a one-run game by sending 16 batters to the plate in the bottom of the fourth inning, resulting in an 11-run outburst which led to a 12-3 victory Wednesday over Southwestern in a Pacific Coast Athletic Conference softball game at Bradley Park. 

The state's top-ranked team won its 30^th game of the season against one loss while improving to 8-0 in conference play. 

Sophomore second baseman Malachy Russell-Millen ignited the big fourth-inning rally with a single to right field, and she singled again later in the inning after the Comets batted around. Freshman right fielder Faith Steffany and sophomore shortstop Elisa Haas also had two hits apiece during the inning, with both of Haas's hits driving in runs. 

Sophomore designated player Aaliyah Rivas provided the big blow of the fourth with a bases-loaded double to center which cleared the bases. In all, Palomar had 12 hits in the inning as the first eight batters reached base before an out was recorded. 

The Comets took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first as sophomore first baseman Allyson Amato led off with a double to center and came around to score on a single to right by Rivas. The score remained 1-0 through the top of the fourth as Palomar starting pitcher India Caldwell blanked the Jaguars (15-20-1, 6-5) on two hits through four frames. 

After Palomar assumed a 12-0 lead in the fourth, Guilianna "Gigi" Clavel pitched the top of the fifth inning and surrendered three unearned runs as Southwestern combined three singles and two infield errors by the Comets to avoid being shut out. 

Caldwell walked one batter and struck out six, including the side in her last inning of work as she improved her record to 21-1. The Comets' offense provided 15 hits as Palomar won by the mercy-run rule for the ninth time in its last 13 games. 

"Their pitcher (Madison Mendez) mixed it up well, so that provided a good challenge for our hitters," said Palomar coach Lacey Craft. "Even though we had only two extra-base hits, we hit a lot of line drives." 

The Comets return home to Bradley Park on Friday for a key Pacific Coast Athletic Conference game against San Diego Mesa. The Olympians trail Palomar by 1½ games in the PCAC standings and are bringing an eight-game win streak into Friday's 1 p.m. contest. 

Palomar will also host College of the Canyons in a nonconference doubleheader on Saturday with Game 1 scheduled for a 12 noon start.