Three-run First Propels Palomar To 6-1 Win At Riverside Wednesday; Tigers Host Cuesta Thursday In Doubleheader

RIVERSIDE – The Palomar College Comets took advantage of a three-run first inning and went on to post a 6-1 non-conference win over the host Riverside City College (RCC) Tigers baseball team Wednesday afternoon (Feb. 15) at Samuel C. Evans Park.

Palomar (6-1 overall), which had two unearned runs in the first, also scored a pair of unearned runs in the fifth for a comfortable 5-1 lead. A botched rundown between third base and home plate contributed to the scoring. The Comets added a run in the ninth for the 6-1 final.

Riverside City (7-5 overall) scored in the fourth on a RBI double by sophomore 3B Patrick Vizcaino (Chino – Don Lugo HS '14) with one out. Vizcaino went two for four. Sophomore RF Dean Miller (Riverside / Ramona HS '15) walked to lead off the frame and scored the Tigers' lone run.

Sophomore DH Cameron Haskell (Temecula / Chaparral HS) went one for four with two runs scored for Palomar.

Sophomore DH Ryan Mota (Fontana / Kaiser HS '14) -- who is pictured -- went two for four for RCC.

RCC starting sophomore RHP Bayley Chesterton (Riverside / M.L. King HS '15) went the first 5.0 innings and allowed five runs (one earned) on three hits and three walks. He struck out four as his record fell to 1-1.

Palomar freshman reliever Ryan Semon (Valley Center HS) came on in the fifth and pitched 3-1/3 innings of shutout ball and scattered four hits with three strikeouts to get the win (1-0). Freshman closer Kevin Palm (Murrieta Mesa HS) came on in the eighth with two out and two runners on and closed the game to notch his second save.

Both teams return to action tomorrow, Thursday, Feb. 16, for doubleheaders beginning at 1 p.m. to try and avoid the rain. Palomar will visit the Glendale College Vaqueros, while RCC will host the Cuesta College Cougars.

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