LA JOLLA, Calif. - The Dominican University of California softball team dropped a pair of losses on Saturday to wrap up a four-game weekend in San Diego. In the series of non-conference games hosted by UC San Diego, the Penguins were dealt an 8-5 defeat by the host Tritons in the morning and then dropped an 8-0 loss to Saint Martin's in the afternoon.
 
Game 1: UC San Diego 8, Dominican 5
 
In the opening game of a Saturday's doubleheader, Dominican staged a late rally but ended up falling by a three-run margin to the host Tritons. 
 
Penguins' infielders Dahlen Dennis and Karitza Reyes both posted multi-hit games to bolster the offense. Both players went 2-for-3 at the plate. As a team, Dominican rallied eight hits.
 
Angelina Lombardi helped keep the visitors within striking distance as the relief pitcher tossed four innings and allowed three runs. She struck out two hitters along the way. 
 
Trailing 7-2 with two outs in the top of the sixth, Dominican put a scare in UCSD with a three-run rally to trim the gap to just two scores. Catlyn Cavender and Dennis started the two-out rally with back-to-back singles. Sophomore shortstop Karitza Reyes then provided a clutch double, driving in two of the inning's three runs.
 
After closing out the Dominican rally, UCSD managed to scrape across an insurance run. The Tritons' final pitcher of the game, Lizzy Beutter, posted a four-out save to wrap up the final score at 8-5. 
 
Game 2: Saint Martin's 8, Dominican 0
 
The Penguins encountered a pair of tough pitchers in the Saturday finale. The Dominican offense was limited to two hits as the Saint Martin's squad did most of its damage in the third inning, posting five runs in that frame.

Cavender collected a hit in the game as she batted in the cleanup spot. At the first base position, Haley Cheek contributed the other hit for the Penguins. 

Pitching in relief for Dominican, Lauren Persi tossed 3.1 innings and allowed just one earned run. In the Saints' third-inning offensively, Persi induced an inning-ending groundout to avoid further damage.

The Penguins will return to action on Tuesday for a road doubleheader at Cal State East Bay. Dominican's home opener will be Saturday, Feb. 11 against Menlo. First pitch of that doubleheader is set for 12 p.m.