BOX SCORES: GAME 1 | GAME 2

SAN RAFAEL, Calif. — The Dominican University of California women's softball team lost a 4-3 heartbreaker  that came down to the bottom of the seventh inning with two outs and a close play at the plate against the University of Hawai'i, Hilo on Tuesday at McInnis Park. The Lady Penguins also dropped the nightcap of the Pacific West Conference doubleheader 8-3.

Things didn't look good for the Lady Penguins (1-18/0-8) after the first half inning when the Vulcans (13-8/9-2) plated a pair of unearned runs. UHH added runs in the third and fourth to stretch the lead to 4-0. After collecting just two hits through the first five innings, the Dominican offense awoke in the bottom of the sixth with three straight hits. Freshman Crystal Albert singled to center, followed by a Molly Howard single to the left side of the infield. Kellie Hislop's double scored Albert and moved Howard to third. Junior pitcher Shawna Robb helped her cause with a double that plated Hislop and Howard to pull the Lady Pengins within a run, 4-3.

In need of a run in the bottom of the seventh and two outs, the Lady Penguins rallied with an Albert double to left center. Howard singled on the next at-bat and Albert tried to score from second but the Lady Penguins' hope of a comeback were dashed when home plate umpire determined that catcher Brittany Spencer had applied the tag on an extremely close play at the plate.

In game two, with UHH playing as the home team, the Vulcans scored a run in the first and threatened again in the second but senior third baseman Robyn Ridpath made two heads up plays for a pair of unassisted outs. Unfortunately for Dominican, three errors led to a seven-run third for the Vulcans. Albert continued her solid outing with a single in the fourth and came home on Hislop groundout. In the sixth, freshman Kayleigh Klingberg singled up the middle, followed by another Albert single. A passed ball allowed both to move up and Hislop tallied her third RBI of the day with a single up the middle. That's as close as Dominican would get though, as UHH pitcher Christina Pedroza worked a 1-2-3 seventh inning.

Albert had a solid day on both sides of the plate. She went 4-for-7 with three runs and made five putouts in the outfield, including a nice diving catch in right center. Howard was 3-for-6 with a run and an RBI.

Dominican will play for the third straight day on Wednesday when Chaminade University visits. First pitch of the doubleheader against the Silver Swords is slated for 2:00 p.m. at McInnis Park.