Posted: Mar 17, 2026
Comets rout SD Mesa, extend PCAC lead
San Diego Mesa
(15-7, 4-3)
5
Palomar
(20-1, 8-0)
13
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
San Diego Mesa | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 7 | 6 |
|
Palomar | 3 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 13 | 15 | 1 |
SAN MARCOS, CA (3/17/2026) – Palomar College continued to expand its lead in the Pacific Coast Athletic Conference softball standings with a 13-5 triumph Tuesday over San Diego Mesa College.
Claiming the mercy-run rule victory in six innings, the Comets improved to 8-0 in conference play and took a 3½-game lead over the Olympians, who dropped to 4-3 in the PCAC. Palomar, ranked No. 3 in the California Community College Fastpitch Coaches Association state poll, earned its 20th win of the season against one loss, while No. 19 San Diego Mesa fell to 15-7.
Four freshmen played key roles for the Comets in their second win over Mesa this season. Third baseman Ava Alvarez slugged her first home run of the season and later added a run-scoring double, right fielder Kailey Dain had three hits, second baseman Kristina Deal reached base three times with two infield singles and a walk, and Emma Schneider came off the bench to provide a single and a double while scoring one run and driving in another.
The first two hitters in the Palomar lineup combined for six hits. Leadoff batter Alexis Huey reached base five times on a walk, an error, two singles and a bases-loaded triple. Dain was also 3-for-4 at the plate, driving in a run with a two-out single in the third inning.
The Comets also took advantage of six Mesa errors, two of which came into play in the bottom of the first inning when the hosts took an early 3-0 lead. The Olympians scored single runs in the second and third innings to cut the deficit to 3-2, but the Comets responded with three more runs in the bottom of the third, which Alvarez led off with a solo shot over the left-field fence for her first collegiate round-tripper.
Two more Mesa errors and RBI singles by Huey and Dain padded Palomar's advantage to 6-2.
The Comets followed a Mesa pitching change by scoring four runs in the bottom of the fourth inning. Three walks and a pinch-hit RBI single by freshman Delaney Smith preceded a bases-loaded triple to right-center field by Huey, giving Palomar an eight-run advantage at 10-2.
Starting pitcher Kiara Flaviani exited the contest after four innings having limited the Olympians to two runs on four hits with one hit batter, two walks and two strikeouts. Flaviani, a sophomore right-hander who pitched seven innings three days earlier in a 4-3 win over No. 9 Cerritos, was relieved by Gianna Burgin to start the fifth inning.
Mesa touched the freshman right-hander for three runs on three hits and a walk around two strikeouts before sophomore right-hander Hailey White was called out of the bullpen.
White retired the final batter of the fifth inning and the side in order in the sixth before the home bats took over again in the bottom of the sixth. Huey started the rally with a one-out single to left and Dain followed with an infield single to short, with both runners advancing on a throwing error.
Schneider then doubled to left for Palomar's 15th hit, scoring Huey and advancing Dain to third. Sophomore Gisele Gonzalez, who doubled home a run in the first inning, was at the plate when a passed ball brought home Dain from third with the game-ending run.
Flaviani earned her state-leading 18th win against one loss for the Comets, who will take an eight-game win streak to Imperial Valley for a PCAC road game on March 19 at 11 a.m. Palomar returns home March 21 to host No. 16 Long Beach City for a nonconference matchup at 1 p.m.