Posted: Mar 01, 2025
Comets’ clout too much for Cerritos
Palomar
(11-2)
18
Cerritos
(10-4)
0
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Palomar | 3 | 2 | 1 | 12 | 0 | 18 | 17 | 0 |
|
Cerritos | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
NORWALK, CA (3/1/2025) – The first two batters of the game provided Palomar College with a quick one-run lead, and the Comets didn't stop there as they slugged six home runs Saturday to overpower Cerritos, 18-0, in a nonconference matchup of two of the state's top five teams.
The host Falcons came into the contest as the No. 4-ranked team in the latest California Community College Fastpitch Coaches Association poll, but Cerritos was no match for the No. 5 Comets, who cranked out 17 hits and wrapped up the five-inning rout with a 12-run fourth inning.
Benefitting from the offensive support was sophomore pitcher Maddie Bedolla, who spun four scoreless innings to win her sixth game in as many decisions while combining on a two-hit shutout with freshman Kiara Flaviani.
Cruising to victory despite playing its third road game in three days, Palomar improved to 11-2 with its seventh straight win. The loss dropped the Falcons to 10-4.
A leadoff walk issued to sophomore third baseman Breanna Lutz, a passed ball and a double by sophomore second baseman Josephine Heuberger gave the visitors a quick 1-0 first-inning lead. Two batters later, freshman first baseman Zoe Karam homered to left-center field for a 3-0 Comets lead and the first of a half-dozen round-trippers for the visitors.
Lutz clouted a two-run blast to center in the second inning, and Karam sent her second home run of the game to right-center field in the third for a 6-0 Palomar advantage.
Palomar added three more homers to fuel the 12-run outburst in the fourth. Lutz hit a two-run shot to left-center field for her second homer of the game and fourth of the season, freshman center fielder Gisele Gonzalez homered for the first time to left-center to drive in three runs, and sophomore catcher Kayla Visser capped the scoring with a grand slam for her first home run of the year.
Karam finished 3-for-3 at the plate, including her third and fourth homers of the season. Freshman left fielder Taylor Armstrong, freshman right fielder Samantha Garcia and freshman shortstop Nalia Nuanez all added two hits apiece.
Bedolla allowed two hits and one walk in her four innings in the circle. She struck out seven batters while extending her scoreless innings streak to 19. Flaviani pitched a scoreless fifth inning with one walk to help secure Palomar's third shutout in four games and sixth of the season.
Palomar returns home March 4 for a Pacific Coast Athletic Conference clash against San Diego Mesa at 3 p.m. Another PCAC foe awaits on March 6 when the Comets visit Imperial Valley for a 1 p.m. contest, and Palomar will host defending state champion Fullerton for a nonconference game on March 8 at 1 p.m.