SAN RAFAEL, Calif. – Dominican softball fell in a pair one-run games Tuesday against Hawaii Pacific at Penguin Field. The Penguins (12-24, 3-13 PacsWest) made a comeback in the first game, but fell 8-7 before dropping a 2-1 contest in game two.
Alyssa Ramirez went 4 for 7 on the day with an RBI and a run scored to lead Dominican from the plate.
Gaby Katafias had a strong outing from the circle despite a loss, allowing two runs and striking out four in a complete game. Sienna Santiago finished 3 for 6 for the Sharks (13-12, 6-8 PacWest) with six RBI and three runs scored.
Santiago blew open the first game in the top of the second inning with a grand slam over the right-field fence to give the Sharks a 4-0 lead. Jordan Curry led off the top of the fourth with a double as HPU continued to apply offensive pressure. She scored on a fielder's choice and a Santiago came home on a double steal for the 6-0 lead. The Sharks added two more runs for the 8-0 lead, but the Penguins began to slowly chip away at the lead.
Ramirez singled to lead off the bottom of the frame and put a runner on the base paths.
Alexis Chinchilla singled to left and
Dahlen Dennis walked to load the bases for Dominican.
Haley Cheek became the first run for the Penguins as she touched home on a passed ball.
Lauren Persi then brought in another run on a fielder's choice to make it 8-2.
Pitching in relief, Persi sat the Sharks down in order in the top of the fifth and left a runners stranded on second in the sixth to keep Dominican in the game. Dennis and
Mady Christensen drew walks and
Alyssa Waltman singled to load the bases for the Penguins once again in the bottom of the sixth. Porto singled up the middle to bring home two more runs and cut the HPU lead down to four.
Persi provided another perfect frame in the top of the seventh to give the Penguins momentum heading into the bottom of the seventh. Ramirez doubled to lead off the bottom of the inning and Cheek singled through the right side to put runners on the corners. Dennis sent a ball back up the middle to bring home Ramirez. Persi doubled to left center to score two more to make it 8-7 and put the tying run in scoring position, but Dominican was unable to bring her home.
The second game was a pitching duel between
Gaby Katafias and Alexa McCoin and Alexis Morales of HPU. Katafias struck out the first batter she faced and kept the Sharks off the board in the top of the first to set up the Penguin offense. Porto walked and advanced to third on a fielder's choice and a passed ball to lead off the bottom of the frame. Ramirez then doubled to right to bring her home and give Dominican the 1-0 lead.
Katafias pitched three-consecutive perfect frames and
Alexis Chinchilla caught Miki Takara stealing to retire the only base runner in the top of the fifth to keep the Penguins in the lead. Dominican had a chance to extend its lead in the bottom of the third and fourth with base runners in scoring position, but McCoin and then Morales was able to escape the jam.
The Sharks finally got on the board in the top of the sixth when Sienna Santiago brought home Cieana Curran from third with a soft ground ball in between the pitcher and short to tie the game. After Santiago advanced to second on a ground out, Noelani Boyer doubled to the right-center gap to give HPU a 2-1 lead. The Penguins were unable to solve Morales and the Sharks held on for the victory.
Dominican will return to the diamond Friday to take on the University of Hawai'i at Hilo in a doubleheader beginning at noon PDT at Penguin Field. Live stats will be available online.
