Posted: Feb 07, 2026
Mission accomplished: Flaviani, Comets sweep Eagles
LA Mission
(2-7)
3
Palomar
(4-0)
11
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
LA Mission | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 2 |
|
Palomar | 2 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 11 | 13 | 2 |
SAN MARCOS, CA (2/7/2026) – Kiara Flaviani was assigned double duty in the pitching circle on Saturday, and the sophomore right-hander was up to the task.
Flaviani pitched a pair of complete games as Palomar College swept a non-conference softball doubleheader from Los Angeles Mission with a pair of run-rule victories. Sparked by a Game 1 leadoff home run and 3-for-3 performance at the plate by sophomore first baseman Alexis Huey, the Comets claimed a 9-1 triumph in five innings in the opener of the twinbill.
In Game 2, sophomore center fielder Gisele Gonzalez was 3-for-3 at the plate with three runs scored and three RBIs to help Palomar pull away for an 11-3 win in six innings. The Comets, who are ranked No. 2 in the California Community College Fastpitch Coaches Association state poll, improved to 4-0 on the season, with Flaviani getting the decision in all four wins.
Huey wasted little time getting the Comets on the scoreboard in Game 1 as she led off the bottom of the first inning by hitting her second home run of the season on a line over the left-field fence. Huey later added a run-scoring single in the second inning and an RBI triple in the fourth as the hosts scored four runs in each of those frames.
Sophomore left fielder Taylor Armstrong had two hits, including an RBI single in the fourth which scored Huey, while freshman right fielder Kailey Dain reached base twice with a single and a double and scored two runs.
Palomar scored all of its runs in the second inning after two outs were recorded. Sophomore catcher Dominique Garcia ignited the rally with a two-out double to right-center field, and the next five batters all singled. Capping the scoring outburst was a two-run single to left by freshman second baseman Natalie Arendt which gave Palomar a 5-0 lead.
A one-out double to left by Dain started the fourth-inning rally, and the decisive run for the mercy rule was scored by freshman Emma Scheider, who hit a run-scoring pinch-hit double before coming around to score on an infield error.
The nine runs and 12 hits were more than enough support for Flaviani, who allowed just two hits and no walks with one hit batter and three strikeouts in five innings of work. The only run scored by the Eagles came on a solo home run with one out in the top of the fourth inning, and Flaviani retired the side for the third time in the fifth inning to secure a quick victory which required just 64 minutes to complete.
Game 2 was not nearly as succinct as Game 1 as the Eagles came out swinging with a pair of runs in the top of the first inning with the help of a hit batter, an infield error, two singles and a sacrifice fly.
The visitors' 2-0 lead did not last long as Palomar responded with two runs in the bottom of the first to knot the score. Huey drew a leadoff walk, advanced to second on a groundout and took third on a single to left by Armstrong. The two baserunners at the corners then executed a double steal with Huey scoring the Comets' first run.
A throwing error advanced Armstrong to third, and she scored on a suicide squeeze bunt by Gonzalez, tying the contest at 2-2.
Palomar continued to work its two-out magic in the third and fourth innings. Schneider, who started Game 2 as the designated player, coaxed her second walk of the game with two out and nobody on base in the bottom of the third. After Gonzalez singled up the middle, freshman second baseman Kristina Deal scored both runners with a double to left field to put the Comets ahead, 4-2.
L.A. Mission scored a run in the top of the fourth on a walk and two singles to shave Palomar's lead to 4-3, but the Comets responded with five runs on five hits in the fourth inning, scoring all five runs after two outs. Armstrong and Schneider each had two-out RBI singles, Gonzalez provided a big blow with a two-run triple to right-center field, and Deal capped the rally with her second hit of the game, an RBI single past shortstop.
Schneider led off the bottom of the sixth inning with single up the middle for her second hit of the game. Gonzalez followed with a single to right for her third hit, and sophomore pinch-hitter Lauren Doepping walked to load the bases with no outs. Pinch-runner Emily Wright scored on a groundout to second base by sophomore catcher Samantha Garcia, and head coach Lacey Craft then called on two more pinch-hitters.
Freshman Delaney Smith singled to short to load the bases, and freshman Jessica Covarrubias then singled to center field to score Gonzalez with the game-ending run. Palomar finished with 13 hits.
Flaviani allowed five hits, one walk and hit two batters while striking out a season-high six batters. She retired eight of the last nine batters she faced, with the only baserunner reaching on an infield error with one out in the sixth. Two of the three runs Flaviani allowed were earned.
The Comets, who combined for 25 hits in the doubleheader sweep, will be on the road for their next game as they take on Riverside City College on Feb. 10 for a 3 p.m. contest. Palomar will return home and continue its nonconference schedule with another doubleheader against No. 11 Antelope Valley on Feb. 13. Game 1 is slated to start at noon on the Comets' diamond.