Palomar homers three times in win over San Joaquin Delta

Bakersfield, Calif. –  The Palomar Comets jumped out to an early lead then rode an impressive performance from Kiara Flaviani in the circle to a 7-2 victory over San Joaquin Delta on day two of the 3C2A Softball State Championships on Friday at Bakersfield College.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Flaviani was perfect through four innings, throwing just 43 pitches in that span to a tough San Joaquin Delta lineup that scored 38 runs over four regional and super regional games to make the tournament.

She was pitching with a lead all game as Palomar's first batter of the game, the NFCA State Player of the Year and 3CFCA Southern Player of the Year, Alexis Huey hammered her first of two homers on the day to center. Her second – which went to a similar spot – came in the top of the seventh inning. They were her 24th and 25th homers of the season.

Later in the first, Ava Alvarez crushed her second home run of the tournament. An oppo-blast over the right field wall. Palomar followed those homers with a four-spot in the second inning. The Comets hit a trio of singles, first Nalia Nuanez, then Kailey Dain, followed by a two-run single from Alvarez. 

Despite a fight from San Joaquin Delta in the late innings, including bringing the tying run to the on-deck circle in the seventh inning, the early six-run deficit proved insurmountable.

On the Delta side, Kiki Mazza hit a towering home run to center field in the fifth inning to break up Flaviani's perfect game. The Mustangs' other run came on a Brooklynn Galloway RBI single.

STAND OUT PERFORMERS/NOTES

• Flaviani turned in an impressive performance in the circle, retiring the first 12 hitters in the Mustangs' lineup. She struck out five in 6.1 innings.

• Huey is 7-10 with three homers and nine RBI's through two games

• Palomar has outscored opponents 40-5 in their first two contests

UP NEXT

Palomar advances to the winner's game to take on San Mateo in a rematch from the 2025 3C2A Softball State Championship game. A year ago, the Bulldogs won 7-4 in the title game. San Joaquin Delta moves to the loser's bracket, immediately to face Saddleback at 5 p.m.

Courtesy of Joe Perrino, 3CFCA SID