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TURLOCK, Calif. — A day after opening the 2012 season with a win over Metropolitan State College of Denver — a team that made it to the NCAA National Tournament in 2011 — the Dominican University of California women's softball team played three games on Saturday as part of the two-day Mizuno Best of the West Invitational at Pedretti Park hosted by Cal State Stanislaus. The Lady Penguins fell 6-0 to the No. 15 ranked Chico State Wildcats, dropped a 5-1 decision to Cal State Dominiguez Hills, and finished the day on a winning note with a 5-4 victory over San Francisco State.

Game 1 vs. Chico State

In game one, the Wildcats (1-0) struck first with a big second inning. Karly Harris (1-1) started the inning by issuing a walk, followed by a base hit. Two batters later, Wildcats pitcher Sam Baker helped her own cause with a three-run homer to left field. Two more hits kept the inning alive and pushed the Chico State lead to 4-0.

Senior Shawna Robb came in to replace Harris in the third inning for Dominican (1-2) and held the Wildcats scoreless through the sixth inning.

After managing just one baserunner through the first five innings, Dominican looked to make noise in the bottom of the sixth inning. Freshman Kelly Borges reached base on an error, followed by base hits by fellow freshmen Kayla Rodriguez and Leslie Mesa. With the bases loaded senior Kellie Hislop hit the ball up the middle but it was fielded by second baseman Kelli Keefe who threw home for the force. Chico State made the attempt to double Hislop off at first, which worked to the Wildcats' favor. Rodriguez broke for home and was easily tagged out at the plate.

Chico State catcher Hailey Stockman added a two-run homer to left center off of Robb in the top of the seventh to seal things.

"Yesterday we came out with intensity and we lacked that today," said Head Coach Roni Sparrey. "We have to come out with the same fight every game. We have to battle for every pitch and execute and the little things."

Dominican catcher Dominique Perry drove a ball to straightaway center for a double in the seventh inning but the next two batters were retired to end the game.

Game 2 vs. Cal State Dominiguez Hills

Dominican (1-3) got off to a slow start, spotting Cal State Dominguez Hills (1-2) a 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning. The Toros tacked on a pair of runs in the third inning to make it 5-0 before the Lady Penguins managed their lone run in the bottom of the fourth inning.

Dominique Perry and Kayleigh Klingberg had back-to-back singles. Perry advanced to third on a fielder's choice and scored on a single by Shawna Robb. Rachel Santiago singled to load the bases but the Lady Penguins couldn't capitalize on the opportunity.

Dominican had baserunners each of the next three innings but was unable to bring them home.

Sophomore pitcher Karly Harris fell to 1-2 but only gave up two earned runs over 4.2 innings. Senior Jessi Saaty came in in relief and gave up a pair of runs in 2.1 innings of work.

"We had our moments, we had our opportunities," said Head Coach Roni Sparrey, who was ejected in the seventh inning. "We just couldn't capitalize and get the bats going"

Game 3 vs. San Francisco State

After being ejected in the seventh inning of the previous game, Head Coach Roni Sparrey's team responded. Seven players recorded at least one hit en route to a 5-4 victory over San Francisco State.

Dominican did most of its damage in the first inning. Kayla Rodriguez was hit by a pitch and scored on the very next at bat, a Kellie Hislop base hit. Hislop beat the throw home on a fielder's choice. Dominique Perry and Jill Rizo scored on an overthrown ball by shortstop Summer Powell that should have been the third out.

San Francisco State kept it close in the bottom half of the inning and used five hits to score three runs. Senior Shawna Robb (1-0) worked her way out of the jam by inducing a comebacker to the circle that left a pair of Gators stranded.

In the sixth inning, Dominican struck for what would turn out to be a much needed insurance run despite leaving the bases loaded. Ater singling, Kayleigh Klingberg scored on Rachel Santiago's single up the middle.

Back-to-back Dominican errors led to a Gators run in the top of the seventh but Robb got a groundball to short, which Rodriguez fielded and threw to Hislop for the game-ending double play.

Robb pitched well again and pitched a complete game for her first decision of the season. Despite giving up nine hits, only one of the four runs were earned.

"Everybody contributed in one way or another," said Sparrey. "Hopefully that momentum will carry into tomorrow's games."