Caldwell blanks Bobcats in 3-0 victory

SAN MARCOS (2/8/2023) – Sophomore pitcher India Caldwell spun a two-hit shutout and was supported by an offense which provided 10 hits as the No. 6-ranked Palomar College softball team remained undefeated Wednesday with a 3-0 nonconference victory over Saddleback at Bradley Park. 

Caldwell improved her record to 3-0 on the season as the Comets won their fifth game in as many outings. She allowed just one baserunner through six innings on a hit batter before allowing a pair of one-out singles in the top of the seventh inning. The right-hander struck out the side in the seventh to end the Bobcats' only scoring threat and finished with 11 strikeouts for the game. 

"It was nice to see India do well again," Comets coach Lacey Craft said. "Saddleback is a good opponent for us every year and they always play us tough. 

"Their defense was good and forced us to work harder on offense." 

Saddleback, of the Orange Empire Conference, fell to 1-3 with the loss. 

Palomar opened the scoring in the bottom of the first inning when freshman right fielder Faith Steffany was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning. After stealing second base and advancing to third on a fly out, Steffany scored on a two-out single to center field by sophomore catcher Ellison Hazlett. 

Steffany scored again in the third inning when she led off with a single, stole second and scored ahead of a double to left field by sophomore first baseman Allyson Amato. 

Amato led off the fifth inning with a single before being retired on a force play at second base. With pinch-runner Sarah Vega on base, Hatzlett singled and was followed by an RBI single by freshman third baseman Itzel De Los Rios to give the defending Pacific Coast Athletic Conference champions a 3-0 lead. 

The Comets loaded the bases with one out in the sixth inning on singles by sophomore center fielder Cadee Herrmann, freshman left fielder Carlee Herrmann and Amato, but the Comets were unable to score. Amato finished 3-for-4 at the plate, and Hazlett was 2-for-4. 

Palomar will be on the road Friday for another nonconference contest at Santiago Canyon before returning to Bradley Park on Feb. 15 for a 2:30 nonconference matchup against Chaffey.