Despite the final score Tuesday afternoon, San Bernardino Valley College softball coach Jerry Tivey had reason to have his head held high after losing to Palomar 12-1 in a Pacific Coast Athletic Conference game at Chavez Park.

The Comets pounded out 15 hits against Emily Sanchez Gutierrez in her first start at home this season, but the defense behind her played solid all afternoon, only commiting two errors and making several key plays behind her. In the first, Gutierrez worked out of a bases-loaded jam without giving up a run. Center fielder Kennedy McCarthy threw out Palomar's Jenny Lafayette trying to stretch a single in right-center into a double. And Gabrielle Ursuy was rock-solid up the middle, holding down the shortstop position, making several plays to take away hits from the Comets.

But in the end, Palomar's bats were too much. Designated player Mary Nejo blasted two home runs to right field, while Riley Penrod had a pair of doubles for the Comets, who remain atop the PCAC standings.

For the Wolverines, Elisha Smith Mayfield provided the offense, launching a pitch over the fence in left-center field to account for SBVC's only run of the game. 

SBVC continues a busy week with a doubleheader Wednesday at Imperial Valley - one a makeup game from a rainout earlier in the season - a weather rescheduled doubleheader Thursday at Glendale and Friday's regularly scheduled game against San Diego Mesa at Chavez Park.