LA JOLLA, Calif. — The Dominican University of California softball team dropped a pair of games on Friday to start the 2017 season, falling 10-0 to UC San Diego in five innings and 11-6 to Saint Martin's. 

The Tritons (2-0) jumped out to an early lead on the Penguins (0-2), pushing across four runs in the bottom of the first. After Dominican starter Gaby Katafias (0-1) induced a groundout to start the inning, Danica Kazakoff doubled, and Kelsi Maday followed with a two-run home run. UCSD kept the pressure on with consecutive doubles from Ashley Chestnut, Maddy Lewis, and Caitlyn Weisner, taking a 4-0 lead.

The Penguins threatened in the second inning with a two-out rally, as Tayler Munoz singled and Keely Bowlan followed with a double. Dominican was unable to take advantage and the Tritons responded with five runs in the bottom of the inning, capped by a three-run double from Lauren Sanders. UCSD used an RBI base hit from Kazakoff in the third to take a 10-0 lead and went on to win by the same score.

Much like the first game, Dominican fell behind early to Saint Martin's (1-1) in game two. The Saints loaded the bases in the bottom of the first against Penguin starter Angelina Lombardi (0-1). After Kim Nelson drove in a run with a sacrifice fly, Sabrina Hicks cleared the bases with a three-run triple. Paige Miller singled to score another run, giving Saint Martin's a 5-0 lead.

Dominican fought back to get into the game in the third. Emily Ginn singled to right and Alyssa Lanza followed with a bunt hit. After McKenzie Schumacher walked to load the bases, Mady Christensen doubled home a pair of runs. Schumacher came across to score on a bunt single from Catlyn Cavendar and Karitza Reyes drove in Christensen with a base hit, cutting the deficit to 5-4. In the fourth, Dahlen Dennis led off with a home run to center field. The Penguins added one more in the frame to take a 6-5 advantage.

The Saints quickly regained the lead in the bottom of the fourth, as Mary Dettling doubled in a pair of runs and Corrie Wilson drove in another with a base hit, putting Saint Martin's ahead 8-6. The Saints added three more runs in the fifth on a two-run triple from Lindsay Miller and an RBI-double from Dettling, helping Saint Martin's to an 11-6 win.

Dominican is back at it on Saturday, playing both UCSD and Saint Martin's again. The Penguins will take on the Tritons at 9:00 a.m. and the Saints at 2:00 p.m.