Posted: May 02, 2026
Comets sweep Pirates, advance to Super Regionals
Palomar
(39-1)
11
Ventura
(22-20-1)
1
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Palomar | 0 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 11 | 10 | 0 |
|
Ventura | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
SAN MARCOS, CA (5/2/2026) – The Palomar College softball team went to extra lengths Saturday in its quest to advance in the postseason.
Seven of the Comets' 10 hits went for extra bases as Palomar completed a two-game sweep of Ventura College with an 11-1 triumph in five innings in a first-round matchup for the 3C2A Southern California Regionals. Leadoff batter Alexis Huey reached base four times with a home run, double and two walks as the sophomore first baseman scored three runs to help pave the way to the SoCal Super Regionals being held next weekend.
Two pitchers combined on a two-hitter for the top-seeded Comets, who improved to 39-1 and are now scheduled to host No. 9 seed Antelope Valley, which eliminated No. 8 Cypress with a two-game sweep in their first-round series. The first game of the Super Regionals matchup between Palomar and Antelope Valley will be May 8 at 2 p.m., with game 2 slated for May 9 at noon.
In the first game of the series against Ventura, Palomar needed a late three-run rally in the sixth inning to pull away for a 6-2 victory. The Comets wasted little time taking control in the second game, scoring five runs in the top of the second inning as the designated visiting team.
A sharp grounder to the right side by sophomore left fielder Taylor Armstrong was misplayed for an error to start the inning. A single and a stolen base by freshman second baseman Kristina Deal put runners at second and third for sophomore catcher Dominique Garcia, who delivered her third clutch hit of the series with a two-run double to left-center field for Palomar's first runs of the game.
Two batters later, Huey launched her team-leading 21st home run of the season over the center-field fence, driving in two more runs for a 4-0 lead. Freshman right fielder Kailey Dain motored her way to another second-inning run when she walked, stole second and third, and scored on a double to right-center field by freshman third baseman Ava Alvarez.
Ventura got on the scoreboard with a leadoff home run in the bottom of the second inning to make it a 5-1 game, but Deal led off the top of the third with a double down the left-field line before Huey coaxed a two-out walk to set the table for pinch-hitter Emma Schneider. The freshman came through on the first pitch with a triple to the gap in left-center field, scoring both runners for a 7-1 Palomar lead.
The Comets added four more runs in the fifth inning, providing the cushion needed for a run-rule victory. Huey doubled to left to ignite the rally, which was continued by walks to freshman pinch-hitter Grace McNally and sophomore designated player Lauren Doepping, a single by sophomore center fielder Gisele Gonzalez, a run-scoring wild pitch and a run-scoring passed ball before being capped by a two-run double to center by Armstrong.
Sophomore right-hander Kiara Flaviani earned her second postseason victory in two days with three innings of work in the pitching circle. The home run was the only run allowed by Flaviani, who limited the Pirates to two hits with no walks and one strikeout while improving her record to 34-1.
Gianna Burgin came out of the bullpen in the fourth inning, and the freshman right-hander retired six of the seven batters she faced in two scoreless innings. Burgin allowed no hits with one walk and two strikeouts to close out Palomar's 27th consecutive win.
Ventura had only three baserunners in the game as the No. 18-seeded Pirates fell to a final season record of 22-20-1.
Gonzalez and Deal joined Huey with two hits apiece, and the Comets had four stolen bases following a season-high six steals the previous day in the game 1 win against Ventura.
The four second-round winners in the SoCal Super Regionals will join the four Super Regional winners from Northern California for the 3C2A state championship tournament being held May 14-17 at Bakersfield College.