SANTA ANA - The Dons jumped out to an early 4-0 lead but needed a run in the sixth inning to edge visiting Palomar College 5-4. The win improves the Dons to 3-0 on the early season while Palomar fell to 1-2.
Daniel Martinez put the Dons up early with a RBI-single in the first inning that scored Ryan Aguilar. The Dons added two more runs in the second inning to go up 3-0. Blake Walker doubled in Cody Bistline before scoring on a fielder's choice by JB Bryant.
In the fourth inning, the Dons extended their lead to 4-0 when Walker scored his second run of the game on a RBI-single by Tyler Madrid.
But Palomar would rally with three runs in the fifth before tying the game in the sixth inning. The Comets three runs in the fifth came on a pair of RBI-singles and a sacrifice fly while the game-tying run in the sixth came on a RBI-single.
The game didn't remain tied for long as the Dons scored the go-ahead run in the bottom of the sixth inning. Walker led the frame off with a double to right field before scoring on a single by Madrid.
Palomar threatened to tie the game once again in the eighth inning but Aguilar threw out Justin Hargrove at the plate for the final out of the inning. The Comets staged one more rally in the ninth, advancing a runner to third before Steven Perkins got a strikeout and a ground out to short stop Joshua Vargas to end the game.
Sean Slettvet earned the win for the Dons despite allowing the game-tying run in the sixth inning. Slettvet finished with one run on one hit with one strikeout in one inning. Isidro Perez suffered the loss for Palomar, allowing two runs on three hits in 4.2 innings of work.
The Dons host Los Angeles Pierce College on Thursday at 2:00 p.m. for their next game.
Game Notes: With his hit in the sixth inning, Tyler Madrid extends his hitting streak to eight games, dating back to last season. The Dons starting pitchers have still yet to allow a single earned run this season. With Garrett Knutson's two scoreless innings, that puts the Dons starters at 13 innings without an earned run. Sean Slettvet's win was his first since March 26, 2010 when he pitched 2/3 of an inning in the Dons 9-8 win at Ventura College.
