Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 MORAGA, Calif. — The Dominican University of California women's softball team found itself trailing early in each of its games to Academy of Art University and could never recover, dropping both of Saturday's Pacific West Conference games — 13-1 (5) and 10-2 (6) — at Cottrell Field on the campus of Saint Mary's College.

Samantha Talavera, who got the start a first base, provided a bright spot for the Lady Penguins. The freshman went 2-for-4 with a walk, and RBI, and a run scored.

Pitcher Karly Harris was unable to get out of the first inning in game one and the Urban Knights (18-23/12-12) took advantage by building an 11-0 lead after just two innings. Talavera singled down the right field line to plate Jill Rizo in the second inning for one of Dominican's four hits.

ArtU scored first in game two and took an early 3-0 lead. Dominican (3-36/0-21) got a run back in the top of the third on a Kellie Hislop sacrifice fly that plated pinch runner Kelly Borges. The Lady Penguins stranded a pair though and ArtU got the run right back in the bottom of the third.

Dominican struck again in the fourth when Talavera scored from second on a heads up play. ArtU first baseman Alyssa Hickey was forced to step into the basepath to field the ball and Dominican catcher Dominique Perry collided with her in the basepath. Perry was ruled safe on the play and Talavera continued home. However, ArtU struck again and posted four runs in the bottom of the inning. ArtU runs in the fith and sixth put things out of reach.

The Lady Penguins will get another shot at ArtU as the two teams face off at Mission Blue Field in Brisbane on Sunday, April 15. The two teams will be participating in "Swing for a Cause" which will see the two teams wear special jerseys that will be sold in a silent auction during the game. Donations and proceeds from Dominican's jerseys will support the spinal injury work of Kentfield Rehabilitation and Specialty Center while proceeds from ArtU's jerseys will support the Amber Craig Memorial Foundation, which helps others prevent suicide through education. First pitch is slated for 12:00 p.m.