Posted: Jan 29, 2026
Comets open season with 13-1 rout of Saddleback
Palomar
(1-0)
13
Saddleback
(3-2)
1
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Palomar | 2 | 2 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 10 | 0 |
|
Saddleback | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
MISSION VIEJO, CA (1/29/2026) – For an opening act, the Palomar College softball team delivered a winning performance.
The Comets, ranked No. 2 in the 2026 California Community College Fastpitch Coaches Association preseason state poll, started their season on the road Thursday with a 13-1 nonconference romp over No. 13-ranked Saddleback, handing the Bobcats their second loss after beginning their season with three straight wins.
Sophomore designated player Lauren Doepping wasted no time in getting the Comets on the scoreboard in their first inning of the season as she followed a leadoff walk to sophomore first baseman Alexis Huey with a two-out home run to center field for an early 2-0 lead for Palomar.
Doepping and Huey did not finish there, combining for nine runs batted in as the Comets followed their opening-inning rally with two more runs in the second inning before erupting for a nine-run outburst in the top of the fourth to seal the run-rule victory in five innings.
The Comets have three nonconference home games scheduled next week, including the 2026 home opener on Feb. 4 at 1 p.m. against Santa Ana. Palomar will host Los Angeles Mission for a Saturday doubleheader on Feb. 7, with Game 1 slated for an 11 a.m. start.
Palomar batted around in the fourth inning at Saddleback, scoring nine runs with Huey providing a two-run home run to left field and a two-run double to left which capped the big rally.
The beneficiary of Palomar's 10-hit attack was sophomore pitcher Kiara Flaviani, who allowed just one hit over five innings, that hit being a solo home run in the bottom of the second which accounted for Saddleback's only run. Flaviani walked two batters and struck out five for her first win of the season.
Doepping, who clouted eight home runs last season as a freshman, finished 2-for-2 with four RBIs, while Huey was also 2-for-2 with 5 RBIs. Sophomore shortstop Nalia Nuanez had two hits and scored two runs, contributing to the fourth-inning rally with an RBI single which scored sophomore center fielder Gisele Gonzalez.
Freshman second baseman Natalie Arendt delivered a sacrifice fly in the second inning in addition to hitting a single and scoring ahead of Doepping's double in the fourth to help deliver the win for head coach Lacey Craft, now in her 16th year at the helm of Palomar softball.
The Comets are coming off a 44-5 season, which included their 11th consecutive Pacific Coast Athletic Conference championship and a runner-up finish to College of San Mateo at the 3C2A State Championship. Palomar culminated its PCAC campaign with a 15-0 record, marking the third straight season the Comets finished unbeaten in conference play. Palomar advanced to the state tournament for the 24th time in program history, and the championship final appearance was the fourth in the last six seasons for the Comets.