Comets clinch third consecutive conference pennant

SAN MARCOS, CA (4/12/2024) -- The Palomar College baseball team clinched their third consecutive Pacific Coast Athletic Conference title and 19th overall on Friday when they swept San Diego Mesa College three games to none to advance to 18-1 in conference play.

Palomar took game one 7-4 after jumping out to a 4-2 lead after two. They added three more runs in the fourth and fifth innings before being silenced by the Olympian pitching staff in the last four frames. Freshman Eric Van Valkenburg pitched 5.1 innings and allowed three runs on seven hits and struck out four to move to 6-1 on the season. Holden Carpenter pitched 1.2 innings and allowed just one hit and struck out four. Evan Langer picked up his second save of the season in two innings of work where he allowed one run on three hits. 

The Comets shut out the Olympians in game two, 5-0 to win the series. Head Coach Ben Adams adjusted the lineup and it paid dividends. Luke Matthews moved from leadoff to the seven spot and went 4-4 on the day with one RBI and two runs. Carter Jorissen and Anthony Pacino each went 2-4 and Jorissen finished with two RBI. Ryan Herrod was on the bump and pitched six solid innings, allowing just three hits and struck out three. Noah Waldeck finished out the game and shut down Mesa by not allowing a hit and striking out three.

In the final game, Palomar won 3-1 to move to 24-8 overall on the season. Ian Mowad has settled into the starting rotation nicely and Friday was proof. In seven innings, his longest of the season, he allowed one run on six hits and struck out a season-high seven. He moves to 6-2 on the season. Langer pitched the eighth and Lucas Smith closed it out to pick up his fourth save of the season. Both Langer and Smith recorded two strikeouts. On the offensive side, it was all Patrick McLellan. It began in the fourth with a leadoff single by Pacino and then a single by Matthews to get Pacino in scoring position. The runners advance on a passed ball. McLellan then singled to right to plate Pacino. Matthews then scored on another passed ball by the Olympians. In the ninth, McLellan doubled to plat DJ Cardinal, who pinch ran for Ryan Rivera. 

Palomar will continue conference play with a three-game series against Southwestern College next week. They will be home on Tuesday and Saturday and head to Chula Vista on Thursday. They also have a nonconference game against San Bernardino Valley College on Wednesday at 1p.m.