Posted: Apr 02, 2025
Comets grounded by rare shutout
Orange Coast
(20-4)
7
Palomar
(25-2)
0
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Orange Coast | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
|
Palomar | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 4 |
SAN MARCOS, CA (4/2/2025) – One day after climbing to the No. 1 spot in the California Community College Fastpitch Coaches Association state rankings, the Palomar College softball team had the numbers go a different direction.
The Comets committed a season-high four errors and were limited to a season-low five hits, adding up to a 7-0 loss to No. 4 Orange Coast College on Wednesday. Palomar had not been shut out since the opening round of last year's state tournament, and it was the first time the Comets had been blanked at home since the 2022 season.
Losing for the first time since Feb. 11 after 21 straight wins, the Comets fell to 25-3 on the season. With their 12th win in 14 games since dropping a 6-2 decision to Palomar on Feb. 28, the Pirates improved to 21-4.
Sophomore pitcher Maddie Bedolla started in the circle for the hosts and allowed five runs on five hits in 4 2/3 innings. Only two of the runs were earned and Bedolla had two walks, one hit batter and six strikeouts while being dealt her first loss of the season in 14 decisions.
Sophomore Nevaeh Haywood relieved Bedolla with one out in the fifth inning after the visitors had scored three runs to take a 5-0 lead. A two-run Orange Coast home run in the seventh accounted for the final margin.
Pirates pitcher Ruby Fidge spun a complete-game shutout, limiting the Comets to five singles. Sophomore Breanna Lutz had two hits for Palomar, which stranded baserunners at third base in each of the first two innings, but had only two baserunners advance as far as second base the rest of the game. Fidge walked two, struck out two and benefitted from a 4-6-3 double play in the sixth inning.
The Comets will be home April 4 for a nonconference three-way with No. 9 El Camino and Los Angeles Mission. The Comets take on El Camino in the first game at 10 a.m.