ST. GEORGE, Utah — The Dominican University of California softball team was swept 8-0 and 17-9, both in five innings, in a PacWest doubleheader by No. 10-ranked Dixie State on Sunday.

The Red Storm set the tone for the day early with a five-run first inning. They added a run in the second and plated two more in the third. Dominican was limited to two hits from Tori Johnson and Samantha Talavera. Ashlyn Moriarity fell to 0-5 on the sesason and was touched for six runs, five earned, in two innnings of work. Michelle Duncan improved to 8-0 for Dixie State with five innings of shutout softball.

In game two, pitcher Katelyn Harden helped her cause before throwing a pitch. The sophomore hit a two-out single to center field that allowed Tori Johnson to score on the bobbled ball. The Red Storm evened the score in the bottom of the inning with a squeeze bunt to tie the game. Dominican grabbed the lead back in the second when Kayla Rodriguez laid a squeeze down the third base line that plated Marisa Cordisco. The errant throw to first also allowed Alyssa Lanza score giving the Penguins a 3-1 lead.

The lead was short-lived though as Dixie State exploded for a 10-run fourth inning. Harden (2-3) didn't receive much help from the defense, which committed four errors in the inning. Of the 11 runs allowed by Harden, only five were earned. Gaby Katafias came in with two outs and ended the inning but gave up four runs on five hits in the next frame. Kelsey Goodner took the circle in the fifth and allowed two runs on two hits.

Dominican's offense did show flashes again in the fourth with a crooked frame of its own. Leslie Mesa, Harden, Talavera, and Lanza all had RBI singles in the inning.

On the day, Lanza went 2-for-4 with two runs and a pair of runs batted in. Harden was 2-for-5 and drove in two with a walk and a run. She is hitting a team-best .394. Talavera went 2-for-4 with an RBI.

The Penguins head to Notre Dame de Namur on Saturday, March 7 for another PacWest doubleheader. First pitch is slated for 12 p.m.