Comets survive 13-inning war with Saddleback, advance to Regional Finals

SAN MARCOS, CA (5/8/2026) – Perseverance and grit. It's what makes them the No. 1 seed and on Friday, the Palomar College Comets proved why.

For five hours, the Comets refused to quit. Thirteen innings, 22 hits, and one of the most dramatic postseason games in program history later, the Comets emerged with a 12-11 victory to sweep the No. 9 Saddleback College Bobcats in the Super Regional and punch their ticket to the Regional Finals next weekend. Palomar is now 39-5 on the season.

Saddleback set the tone immediately, erupting for six runs in the bottom of the first to silence what had been a raucous crowd for Palomar. The Comets scratched back with two in the second and two in the third, then added single runs in the fifth, eighth, ninth, and tenth to stay within striking distance. But every time Palomar moved in front, the Bobcats found an answer, and every time Saddleback threatened to pull away, the Comets dug in.

It finally ended in the thirteenth. 

Gavin Malcomson was hit by a pitch and Elijah Stephens singled to put two on with nobody out. Michael Rodda doubled to score Malcomson and put Stephens on third. After a popup and a pitching change, Preston Conklin lifted a sacrifice fly to center to score Stephens and give Palomar a 12-10 lead. The Bobcats got one back in the bottom half on a Matthew Henning single, but Joey Halter, who had worked the final 2.1 innings, induced back-to-back flyouts to end it.

Stephens was at the center of the offense all afternoon, going 4-for-6 with a home run and two RBI. Adrian Macias went 4-for-6 with two RBI, Rodda finished 3-for-7 with two RBI and the go-ahead double in the thirteenth, and Rainn McMillan went 3-for-6 with two RBI. Jacob Loving and Braedon Peterson-Cheek each drove in two, and the Comets produced 22 hits as a team over 13 grueling innings.

Five pitchers worked for Palomar. Ryan Herrod started and was tagged for six runs (two earned) in first, but settled in to retire 10 of the next 11 batters he faced before exiting after three innings. Dylan Berentis, Angel Barron, and Jude Atley each kept the Comets alive through the middle extra frames before Halter closed it out to improve to 6-0 on the season.

Saddleback finished 27-19 on the season. Dmitri Susidko went 4-for-6 with two RBI and Jack Borges drove in three for the Bobcats in a valiant effort.

Palomar returns to the Regional Finals next weekend. This is their third straight year the Comets are advancing. The action gets underway on Friday at 2 p.m. at Bob Vetter Field.