ATHERTON, Calif. – Competing in a non-conference doubleheader on Saturday, the Dominican University of California softball team dropped a pair of close contests to Menlo.
 
Freshman McKenzie Schumacher put together a terrific day offensively, going 4-for-7 at the plate with three runs scored and three stolen bases. She has at least one hit in five of the season's first six games, posting a .444 average along the way.
 
The first game Saturday featured the two teams trading the lead. Despite Dominican tying the game 5-5 in the bottom of the sixth, Menlo scored the game-winning run in its final turn at the plate. The Penguins encountered tough pitching in the second game as the Oaks managed to post a shutout.
 
The results drop Dominican to 0-6 overall while Menlo improves to 5-2. The Penguins will return to action Monday, Feb. 20 at Cal State East Bay.
 
Game 1 – Menlo 6, Dominican 5
 
Designated as the home team in the first game, Dominican didn't waste time getting on the scoreboard. Penguins' starting pitcher Angelina Lombardi worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the top half and then before the Oaks could record an out defensively, Catlyn Cavender knocked a double to bring Schumacher across for the first run.
 
The Menlo offense bounced back in the second inning, getting a one-out triple to pull ahead 2-1. The Oaks stretched the margin to 3-1 when a runner scored on a wild pitch in the top of the third.
 
With stellar baserunning and a well-placed sacrifice bunt, the Penguins rallied for a pair of runs in the bottom half of the third inning. Cavender and Katelyn Harden delivered RBI hits during that frame.
 
Menlo once again seized the lead in the next inning but Dominican didn't back down from the challenge. Harden collected a clutch RBI single in the fifth and then senior Alyssa Lanza tallied the game-tying hit in the next inning. Both hits came with two outs.
 
The tie score didn't stay for long though as Menlo scored on another wild pitch in the top of the seventh and then held on to the lead to close out the one-run victory.
 
Game 2 – Menlo 4, Dominican 0
 
The Oaks' squad got on the scoreboard early with a solo homerun from freshman Ariana Belarde in the second inning.
 
Dominican junior pitcher Gaby Katafias kept the Penguins within striking distance though, working out of numerous jams through the middle innings and ending a few frames with strikeouts.
 
Menlo broke through for a big rally in the sixth inning though after being helped by a Penguins' error. That rally pushed the Oaks' lead to 4-0 and wrapped up Katafias' performance with four runs across and one of them earned. The Dominican pitcher scattered eight hits and allowed three walks. Katafias struck out three batters on Saturday.
 
Senior centerfielder Alyssa Lanza provided a boost for the Penguins' lineup, going 2-for-2 out of the No. 9 spot.