Box Score ST. GEORGE, Utah – Dominican softball took advantage of a couple Chadron State errors in the third inning to take an 8-6 victory Friday in its opening game of the 2018 Dixie State Easton Classic at the Canyons Softball Complex.
 
Lauren Persi (1-0) came in relief and did not allow an earned run until the sixth to earn the victory. Mady Chirstensen went 2 for 3 from the plate with two RBI and a double, while McKenzie Schumacher went 1 for 2 with two runs for the Penguins (1-4).
 
The Eagles (2-6) were led by Ellie Owens' 3 for 3 at the plate to go with two runs scored.
 
Dominican was clinging to an 8-6 lead when Alyssa Waltman re-entered the circle with one on and one out in the top of the seventh. Waltman caught Angelica Maples looking for the second out of the inning, but Leilani Niccum walked to put the tying run on base. A wild pitch put both runners in scoring position with Kendyl Moody at a full count. Waltman got Moody swinging for the final out of the game and the save for the Penguins.
 
Schumacher got things started for Dominican in the first, stealing second and third after a walk and scoring on a wild pitch to give the Penguins a 1-0 lead. Chadron State tied it in the second when Moody drew a walk with the bases loaded and Allie Mason gave the Eagles the lead with an RBI single in the top of the third.
 
Dominican quickly tied the game in the bottom of the frame as Schumacher successfully executed a squeeze bunt to bring home Chirstensen and tie the game 2-2. A walk and a dropped fly ball loaded the bases for the Penguins two batters later and Alyssa Ramirez brought home Schumacher for the 3-2 lead with a sacrifice fly to left. Two more walks brought in another Dominican run and forced Chadron State into a pitching change.
 
A fielding error allowed two more Penguins to score before Christensen sent a shot to the left-center gap to bring home Emily Ginn and Alyssa Waltman for the 8-2 lead.
 
Owens doubled to lead off the top of the sixth for the Eagles and she came home on a Niccum single to cut the lead to five heading into the final frame. Chadron State mounted a comeback attempt in the top of the seventh scoring three runs but were unable to best Waltman and tie the game.