Stephens homers, Comets roll past Warriors 12-4 to stay perfect in PCAC

SAN MARCOS, CA (3/12/2026) -- Elijah Stephens went 3-for-5 with a home run and four RBI as the No. 5-ranked Palomar College Comets rolled past the Imperial Valley College Desert Warriors 12-4 Thursday afternoon at Bob Vetter Field, improving to 17-3 overall and 7-0 in PCAC play.

Palomar broke out quickly, plating two runs in each of the first two innings to build an early 4-0 cushion. The Comets kept their foot on the gas through the middle innings, adding a run in the fourth and three more in both the fifth and sixth frames to put the game well out of reach.

Stephens was the offensive catalyst, lacing two extra-base hits among his three knocks and doing damage all over the box score. Michael Rodda added a two-RBI effort and tripled, while Rainn McMillan doubled and drove in a run. Preston Conklin reached base twice and doubled, and Jacob Loving scored three times from his leadoff spot.

Ryan Herrod earned his fourth win of the season, working 5.1 innings and allowing four runs, three earned, on 12 hits while striking out three. Relievers Dylan Berentis, Blake Gordon, and Nate Sheriff combined to retire the final 11 batters across the final 3.2 innings to close it out.

Imperial Valley fell to 6-15 overall and 0-7 in the PCAC. Antonio Gonzalez took the loss for the Desert Warriors, giving up eight runs on eight hits over five innings.

Palomar will travel to El Centro to wrap up the series against the Desert Warriors on Saturday, with first pitch scheduled for 1 p.m.