Clavel no-hitter keeps Hawks grounded

SAN MARCOS (2/14/2024) – One day after being dominant at the plate, the Palomar College softball team relied on the strong right arm of sophomore pitcher Guilianna "Gigi" Clavel.

Clavel spun a no-hitter and faced just one batter over the minimum as the Comets remained unbeaten on the season with a 4-0 nonconference victory over Santiago Canyon on Wednesday at Bradley Park. A three-run second inning and an RBI double by sophomore third baseman Itzell De Los Rios in the fourth inning were all the offensive support needed for Clavel to improve her season record to 4-0.

"Gigi was locating her pitches early on, and then it was good to see her bear down in the later innings," said Palomar coach Lacey Craft, whose team won for the sixth time in as many games. "Santiago has girls at the top of the lineup with speed, so our plan was to keep them off base."

Santiago Canyon (3-6) had just three baserunners in the contest. A one-out walk in the third inning was erased by a pickoff throw from freshman catcher Shelbie Van Slyke, and a leadoff hit batter in the fourth was retired by a line-drive double play turned by sophomore shortstop Tess Altevers-Harris.

The Hawks' leadoff hitter in the sixth inning reached base on an infield error, stole second base and advanced to third on a groundout with one out, but she was stranded there by a strikeout and a line out to sophomore left fielder Carlee Herrmann. Clavel pitched a perfect seventh inning to secure the win, finishing with five strikeouts.

Clavel also hit a leadoff single in the third and scored ahead of a double to left-center by De Los Rios, who previously doubled to right to lead off the second inning. After De Los Rios advanced to third on a groundout, a single by Herrmann led to a double steal which provided Palomar's first run of the game. Additional runs came in on a single by freshman first baseman Breanna Lutz and a sacrifice fly to center by sophomore center fielder Maddie Scott.

De Los Rios and Lutz each had two hits for the Comets, who were limited to six hits one day after collecting 19 hits in a 15-0 romp over San Bernardino Valley. Palomar is scheduled to host Antelope Valley on Friday for a nonconference doubleheader beginning at 12 noon.