Box Score SAN RAFAEL, Calif. — A one-out  fly ball off the bat of Dominican University of California senior Jessi Saaty appeared destined to drop for a base hit  in the third inning Monday at McInnis Park but California Baptist centerfielder Marshean August made a diving catch.

It was that kind of a day for Dominican.

Saaty's bid for a single was the closest the Lady Penguins came to getting a hit off hard-throwing Lancers starting senior right-hander Emma Holden, the league's best pitcher, who tossed a five-inning no-hitter for Cal Baptist (43-6/26-4) in a 12-0 win. That allowed the Lancers to clinch the Pacific West Conference championship on the home field of the Lady Penguins (3-43/0-28).

Dominican ruined Holden's perfect game bid when, in the last inning, senior Jill Rizo drew a lead-off walk. Dominican wound up loading the bases off Holden (22-4) after sophomore Dominique Perry beat out a potential game-ending double play grounder. Shawna Robb followed by fouling off a potential third-strike pitch to work Holden for a walk then Saaty walked on four pitches.

But Holden struck out Cortnie Chenoweth to end the game. Holden, who entered the contest — a make-up game from a March 20th rainout — leading the PacWest with an average of 10.5 per game, fanned eight Dominican batters.

The Lady Penguins could never recover from the first inning when the Lancers, winners of 11 consecutive games, scored seven runs off Dominican starter Karly Harris and Robb, who relieved her.

“It's a disappointing because we had played that team tight the previous three games and then you immediately give up seven out of the gate. It doesn't set a real good tone for the team energy-wise,” said Head Coach Roni Sparrey. “Even though we've been battling out of holes all year, we've got to be smarter hitters and have better at bats.”

The Lancers had 14 hits in the game, six of them for extra bases including Kendall Gorham's league-leading 13th home run.

“They hit the ball hard. But we can't defend home runs,” Sparrey said.

Defensively, the Lady Penguins were led by Rizo, their third baseman, who made two splendid stops at the hot corner.

“We've been asking a lot of our defense this year, moving people around just trying to find the right combination, and she's been playing the corners and knocking it down when she needs to,” Sparrey said. “She continuously attacks and is always into the game.”

Rizo and fellow Dominican seniors Saaty, Robb, and Kellie Hislop, the team's leading hitter, will be honored on Senior Day at the team's final home games — a doubleheader on Friday afternoon versus Notre Dame de Namur University at McInnis Park. Dominican first will travel to Belmont to play the Lady Argonauts on Wednesday at 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m.