Posted: Feb 18, 2026
Comets silence Griffins in PCAC opener
Grossmont
(4-6, 0-1)
0
Palomar
(8-0, 1-0)
12
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Grossmont | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 |
|
Palomar | 0 | 9 | 2 | 1 | X | 12 | 13 | 0 |
SAN MARCOS, CA (2/18/2026) – The date and site may have been changed on short notice for the conference opener, but the result was the same for the Palomar College softball team.
The unbeaten Comets rolled to a 12-0 victory Wednesday over Grossmont in the first game of the Pacific Coast Athletic Conference schedule for both teams. The contest was originally slated to be played Thursday at Grossmont, but the Griffins' field was deemed unplayable. The two teams agreed to move the game to Palomar after the Comets' originally scheduled road game for Wednesday at Fullerton was rained out.
Palomar is now tentatively scheduled to play its second of three PCAC games against Grossmont on March 10 in El Cajon instead of in San Marcos. The Comets also have a switch in sites for their next nonconference game against Mt. San Jacinto, now tentatively slated for Friday at Palomar with a 1 p.m. start.
Friday's game was originally scheduled to be played in Menifee. The nonconference game at Fullerton will be rescheduled at a later date.
Sophomore designated player Lauren Doepping slugged two home runs for Palomar in the run-rule win against Grossmont. Doepping highlighted a nine-run outburst by the Comets in the bottom of the second inning with a three-run homer to right-center field.
Doepping added a two-run blast to left in the third inning, boosting her team-leading home run total to six for the season as Palomar improved to 8-0 after maintaining its No. 2 ranking in the latest CCCFCA state poll.
The Comets sent 15 batters to the plate during the big second-inning rally, with sophomore first baseman Alexis Huey driving in three runs with a two-run double to left field and a run-scoring single to left. Sophomore catcher Dominique Garcia also had two hits in the inning, driving in freshman second baseman Kristina Deal with the first run of the game after Deal led off with a single and stole second base.
A total of 21 players saw action for head coach Lacey Craft, with 10 different players providing at least one hit. Sophomore shortstop Aubrey Thorne doubled to center field to lead off the fourth inning and scored Palomar's final run on a single to center by freshman center fielder Delaney Smith, who provided the Comets' 13th and final hit of the five-inning contest.
Sophomore pitcher Kiara Flaviani combined with two relievers for Palomar's third shutout of the season. Flaviani won for the eighth time in as many starts, pitching three scoreless innings with two walks and four strikeouts. Grossmont's only hit of the game was a one-out triple in the top of the third inning, but the Griffins baserunner was stranded at third base as Flaviani retired the next two batters on a strikeout and a groundout.
Freshman Leasivao Sauileone and sophomore Hailey White each pitched one perfect inning to help drop Grossmont to 4-6 on the season.
Following the non-conference game against Mt. San Jacinto on Friday, the Comets return to PCAC action with a home game against No. 20 Southwestern on Feb. 24 at 3 p.m.