SAN MARCOS — Palomar softball proved there is no scenario they can’t handle, as they defeated Antelope Valley Marauders two games to one in a three-game series that took place on Palomar campus on May 8-9.
The Comets combined for 32 runs over the three games, using their offense to fuel the series victory.
That isn’t to say these games were easy for Palomar. The Comets trailed at some point during all three games.
“There had been a handful of times that we had to come from behind [this season], and I think that we keep referring to those experiences so that people don’t hit the panic button,” Head Coach Lacey Craft said.
Game 1 was the perfect example of the team not hitting the panic button, as they needed a fifth-inning rally in order to take the victory.
Game 1, Palomar College 8 – Antelope Valley 4
The Marauders got on the board first, with Marley Delgado (#17) smashing a solo shot to center field to put Antelope Valley up 1-0. This was the first of five home runs for Delgado over the weekend, as she proved to be a real thorn in the side to Palomar.
The Comets responded in the bottom of the second by scoring three runs, highlighted by a two-run double from Alexis Huey (#15).
They kept the 3-1 lead until the top of the fourth, when Delgado and fellow Marauder Hartley Lundquist (#24) both hit home runs. This resulted in the Comets trailing 4-3 entering the bottom of the fifth.
Palomar’s offense came to life at this point, scoring five runs to go up 8-4, which was ultimately the final score.
The rally started with Huey hitting a clutch two-run homer to give Palomar a 5-4 lead, coming through when her team needed it most.
“I think I was just looking for one that I could hammer, put in play, try to get the run in any way I can,” Huey said.
Lauren Doepping (#30) would also go on to hit a two-run home run in the inning, expanding Palomar’s lead and giving the team some breathing room.
“I was getting all outside [pitches in previous at-bats], so I just got closer up on the line and waited for that pitch, then I attacked,” Doepping said.
The Comets tacked on one more run via an RBI single from Kristina Deal (#8), solidifying an 8-4 lead and never looking back.
The Marauders offense went quiet over the final three innings, as Gianna Burgin (#11) pitched 2 2/3 hitless innings in relief of starting pitcher Kiara Flaviani (#6).
The 8-4 win on Friday meant that Palomar would advance to the 3C2A state softball championship tournament with one more win, although Antelope Valley was not going to go out easy.
Game 2, Antelope Valley 11 – Palomar College 9
While the Comets’ offense stayed red hot from the prior game, their pitching was ice cold. The Marauder’s 11 runs were the most that Palomar had allowed in a game all season.
Antelope Valley hit four home runs in this game, led off by teammates Jordan Zinn (#11) and Jeannette Camarena (#6) in the bottom of the third. This put Palomar down 5-0 early, but the Comets did not quit.
Palomar scored six unanswered runs, capped off by Kailey Dain (#2) scoring one of her three runs in Game 2.
“I’m known for delay stealing and taking opportunities to go to the next base… I just see an opportunity to go and try my best to find a way to score a run, ” Dain said.
The Comets were up 6-5 entering the bottom of the fifth, but the lead didn’t last long.
Delgado hit another home run for the Marauders to tie up the game at 6-6, where the score remained after the seventh, forcing extra innings.
Palomar looked hungry to start extras, scoring three runs in the top of the eighth to take a 9-6 lead.
All that separated Palomar from advancing was three outs, but there was no quit in the Marauders.
Palomar sent out one of its Game 1 heroes, Burgin, to close out the game. Unfortunately, this time she was unable to deliver.
Antelope Valley scored three runs, tying things up at 9-9 with Delgado coming up to bat again.
Coach Craft chose to keep Burgin in despite a 70-plus pitch count and Delgado establishing herself as a hitter to be feared in a moment like this.
“Gianna had a lot of good movement, they just hit her,” Craft said. “We thought we could pull it out because we had that cushion, but they ended up getting the big hit when they needed it.”
The “big hit” was a walk-off two-run home run for Delgado, forcing a win-or-go-home Game 3 that was to be played 30 minutes after the dramatic ending of Game 2.
The Comets weren’t fazed by the last-second loss, as they knew they had to move on quickly and focus on what could be their final game of the season coming up.
“We’re not done yet. We have another game, we gotta fight and we gotta claw our way back,” Huey said.
Game 3, Palomar College 15 – Antelope Valley 7
Delgado picked up right where she left off in Game 2, hitting a two-run home run to start the scoring in Game 3. Palomar would go on to intentionally walk her in her next two plate appearances to avoid further damage from her bat.
With the Comets already trailing, it was fair to wonder if the back-breaking nature of the Game 2 loss was too much to overcome mentally.
The Comets responded however, scoring two runs of their own in the bottom of the first to tie things up at 2-2.
The score remained until the top of the third, when the Marauders added four more runs to take a 6-2 lead.
From this point on, Palomar outscored Antelope Valley 13-1.
It was a full team effort, with nine players recording an RBI, including Doepping hitting a two-run home run to jump-start the comeback effort in the bottom of the third.
“I think that we just have a lot of confidence in ourselves and our ability. If we believe in ourselves, trust everything, like our training, our coaches … we’re not gonna lose,” Doepping said.
The offense was able to give its pitching staff plenty of run support, which helped ease the pressure off Flavianai, who was pitching in relief of starter Hailey White (#20).
Flaviani allowed only one run over three innings pitched, silencing an Antelope Valley team that had previously hit everything they saw.
Palomar would go on to win 15-7 in Game 3, advancing to the 3C2A state softball championship tournament for the fourth straight year.
The Comets’ first matchup in the championship round will be against Santa Rosa Junior College at 5 p.m. on May 14 at Bakersfield College.