Comets take two from No. 10 Orange Coast

COSTA MESA, CA. (3/26/2024) – Assuming the role as visitor again, the Palomar College softball team took to the road Tuesday and came away with a nonconference doubleheader sweep of Orange Coast College.

The second-ranked Comets extended their consecutive streak of shutouts to six games by taking two wins from the No. 10 Pirates, 15-0 and 5-0. Palomar has won 15 games overall by shutout after sophomore Guilianna "Gigi" Clavel and freshman Nevaeh Haywood combined on a five-inning whitewash in Game 1, followed by a seven-inning complete game by Clavel in Game 2.

Improving to 24-1 on the season with the two wins, the Comets got the twinbill off to a fast start by scoring eight runs in the top of the first inning of Game 1. The rally began with a one-out single by freshman second baseman Josephine Heuberger and did not end until Palomar sent 13 batters to the plate.

Freshman first baseman Breanna Lutz, sophomore third baseman Itzell De Los Rios and freshman catcher Kayla Visser all had run-scoring doubles during the opening-inning uprising, and the big hit of the rally was a bases-clearing, three-run triple to left-center field by sophomore center fielder Maddie Scott.

Already with enough of a lead for the mercy-run rule to take effect, Palomar added six runs in the fourth and one in the fifth to secure a run-rule win in five innings for the ninth straight contest.

Heuberger, sophomore left fielder Carlee Herrmann and sophomore shortstop Tess Altevers-Harris had three hits apiece to pace the Comets' 18-hit attack.

Clavel started in the circle and pitched three scoreless innings for her 17^th win of the season. After allowing a leadoff double in the first inning, Clavel retired nine consecutive batters, including five by strikeout. Haywood pitched two innings, allowing one walk and one hit batter with one strikeout.   

The Comets were extended to seven innings for the first time in 10 games in Game 2. An RBI triple by Heuberger to right followed a leadoff walk to sophomore right fielder Faith Steffany in the top of the first inning, and Lutz chased home Heuberger with a double to left for an early 2-0 lead.

Palomar added single runs in the third, fifth and sixth innings to wrap up its second victory of the day against the Pirates (16-6). Heuberger and freshman designated player Isabella De Filippis each had two hits to help support Clavel's eight shutout of the season. The right-hander allowed three hits and one walk while striking out eight batters to run her season record to 18-1.

The Comets have a pair of rain make-up games coming up next, including Wednesday against No. 11 El Camino at Bradley Park at 3 p.m., and Thursday at Chaffey starting at 2 p.m.