Posted: Jan 25, 2025
For Openers, Big Inning Carries Comets Past PCC
Pasadena City
(0-0)
1
Palomar
(0-0)
15
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Pasadena City | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 5 |
|
Palomar | 2 | 12 | 0 | 1 | X | 15 | 12 | 1 |
SAN MARCOS, CA (1/25/2025) – Palomar College opened the 2025 California Community College Athletic Association season with a bang on Saturday as the Comets rolled to a 15-1 nonconference victory over Pasadena City College.
Starting the season for the first time at their new on-campus venue, the Comets broke open a one-run game by scoring 12 runs in the bottom of the second inning, with all of the runs crossing the plate after two outs were recorded. Sophomore second baseman Josephine Heuberger provided the big blow for Palomar as she capped off the outburst with a three-run home run to right-center field.
"We just kept extending that inning," said head coach Lacey Craft, who watched her team send 15 batters to the plate in the second. "I was happy to see everyone get involved."
Following a leadoff walk to sophomore designated player Kayla Visser, the Lancers retired the next two Palomar batters. But the next 11 batters reached base safely, beginning with five consecutive hits. Run-scoring singles by sophomore third baseman Breanna Lutz and Heuberger preceded an RBI triple by freshman first baseman Zoe Karam for a 5-1 lead. Six more hits, including a two-run single by Visser, combined with two PCC errors to fuel the big rally.
The visitors scored one run on two hits in the top of the first inning to post an early 1-0 lead, but the Comets responded in the bottom of the first with a two-out, two-run single by freshman right fielder Samantha Garcia to assume a 2-1 advantage.
The second-inning rally provided more than enough cushion for Palomar starting pitcher Nevaeh Haywood. After allowing the first-inning run, the sophomore right-hander retired six of the final seven batters she faced, with the only baserunner reaching on an error. Haywood had five strikeouts in her three innings of work.
Sophomore left-hander Maddie Bedolla pitched two perfect innings with one strikeout to secure the run-rule victory.
Craft, now in her 14th season at the helm of the Comets, was able to get 20 players into the five-inning contest.
"It was good to see them get some experience being out there playing against somebody other than themselves," Craft said. "And it was nice to throw both pitchers."
Collecting two hits apiece at the plate were Heuberger, Lutz, Karam and Garcia. The Comets finished with 12 hits.
Palomar will be home again for its second game of the season when the Comets host Saddleback on Jan. 29. The first pitch is slated for 2 p.m.