Comets Sweep Southwestern with 12-6 Win, Run PCAC Record to 4-0

SAN MARCOS, CA (3/5/2026) -- Palomar College erupted for eight runs in the first inning and never looked back, defeating Southwestern College 12-6 on Thursday to complete the two-game series sweep. The Comets improved to 14-3 overall and 4-0 in the Pacific Coast Athletic Conference. Southwestern fell to 8-11 and 0-4 in the PCAC.

Palomar wasted little time taking control. Southwestern scored twice in the top of the first on RBI singles by EJ Barnes and Josh Hughes, but the Comets answered in a big way in the bottom half. Braedon Peterson-Cheek walked to open the inning, and the frame quickly turned into an offensive explosion. Elijah Stephens walked to plate Peterson-Cheek on a passed ball, and Jacob Loving reached on a fielding error by the pitcher, advancing all the way to third, to score three unearned runs. Peterson-Cheek capped the rally with a triple that scored three more, as errors by the Jaguars' center fielder allowed DC Ruth, Rainn McMillan, Loving and Peterson-Cheek to all score. By the time the dust settled, Palomar had sent ten batters to the plate, collected two hits, and put up eight runs — six of them unearned — to take a commanding 8-2 lead.

Stephens kept the offense going in the second inning, launching a solo home run to push the lead to 9-2. Palomar added single runs in the fourth and seventh and tacked on a final run in the eighth when Justin Tucker stole third and scored on an error, finishing the scoring at 12-6.

Peterson-Cheek finished 1-for-3 with three RBI, three runs scored, and two walks. Stephens was equally impactful, going 1-for-2 with a home run, two RBI, and three walks. Jacob Loving drove in three runs despite going hitless, drawing walks and benefiting from a chaotic Southwestern defensive performance. Gavin Kramer added a double and two RBI, and Michael Rodda went 2-for-4 with a run scored.

Ryan Herrod was strong on the mound, earning his third win of the season after working 5.2 innings and allowing three earned runs on ten hits while striking out five. Cody Cappelletti followed with 2.1 innings, and Joey Halter closed out the ninth with a clean frame.

For Southwestern, Daniel Mora went 3-for-5 and Gavin Daley added three hits and an RBI. The Jaguars collected 14 hits on the afternoon but were undone by three errors and five wild pitches from their pitching staff.

Palomar has now swept both of its PCAC series to open conference play. The Comets will hit the road Saturday, traveling to San Diego City College for a 1 p.m. first pitch.