Another road game, another shutout for Comets

SAN DIEGO (3/6/2024) – Travelling a total of nearly 260 miles in two days for back-to-back road games, the Palomar College softball team showed no sign of white line fever on Wednesday.

Palomar pitching was again unscored upon as the Comets posted their second shutout in as many days with an 8-0 Pacific Coast Athletic Conference victory at San Diego Mesa. Palomar's seventh straight win came after a 7-0 triumph the previous day in a non-conference outing in Torrance against El Camino.

The Comets, who continue to be the state's No. 3-ranked team in the latest California Community College Fastpitch Coaches Association poll released Wednesday, improved to 15-1 overall and 3-0 in PCAC play with their win over the Olympians (10-5, 1-1).

A six-run first-inning outburst got Palomar off to another fast start as the Comets knocked out the opposing starting pitcher in the first inning for the second straight game. The rally began with a leadoff walk to sophomore right-fielder Faith Steffany, and Palomar proceeded to bat around with the aid of five hits, three walks and a hit batter. The big hit of the inning was a two-run single by sophomore center fielder Maddie Scott.

Palomar added two more runs in the third inning when Steffany and freshman first baseman Breanna Lutz both scored on wild pitches after reaching base on an error and a walk, respectively. The Comets went on to wrap up the mercy-run rule win in five innings.

Sophomore third baseman Itzell De Los Rios and sophomore pitcher Guilianna "Gigi" Clavel each had two hits for the winners, who finished with nine hits and accepted six walks from Mesa pitching.

Clavel started in the pitching circle and was one of three pitchers used by Palomar against the Olympians. Clavel pitched two scoreless innings and picked up the win to improve her record to 11-1. She also pitched a complete-game shutout the previous day against El Camino.

Freshman Nevaeh Haywood relieved in the third and pitched two scoreless innings, and freshman Maddie Bedolla pitched one inning to wrap up the three-hitter for the Comets, accounting for Palomar's eighth shutout of the season. The three pitchers combined for no walks and five strikeouts.

Palomar's next contest is slated for Saturday at Bradley Park against Santa Ana in a non-conference home game at 12 noon, weather permitting. The Comets' next conference game is scheduled for March 13 at San Diego City.