SAN RAFAEL, Calif. – Junior pitcher
Lauren Persi locked down Notre Dame de Namur from the circle to help Dominican softball to a 7-2 victory Monday afternoon in its Pacific West Conference opener at Penguin Field.
Persi (1-0) struck out nine batters and allowed two earned runs in a complete game from the circle for the Penguins (3-0, 2-0 PacWest). Senior designated player
Dahlen Dennis added a 3-run home run after going 1-for-3 at the plate, while
McKenzie Schumacher went 2-for-4 and added a stolen base in the first game of the day.
Aurora Adams led the Argonauts (0-5, 0-2 PacWest) offensively going 2-for-3 with an RBI. Katie Bettis came in relief to hold Dominican without a run in five innings pitched.
Persi opened the game striking out Jules Keeney looking and retired the next two batters to set the tone early for the Penguins. Schumacher singled to left to lead off the bottom of the frame and then stole second to get into scoring position.
Mady Christensen and
Karitza Reyes drew walks to load the bases and a fielding error brought home Schumacher for the first run of the game.
Freshman
Peyton Mott kept the hit party going sending a ball past the diving shortstop to bring home two more runs. Dennis then stepped to the plate and sent a rocket over the left-field fence to clear the bases and extend the lead to 6-0.
Alexis Chinchilla doubled and
Haley Cheek singled to put runners on the corners and Chinchilla came home after the Argonauts recorded their first out on a slow grounder to second base. NDNU was able to get out of the inning without any further damage and Dominican with a 7-0 lead.
It was all Persi from there on out for the Penguins as she struck out the next five batters she faced and a line out to left kept her perfect through three frames. Keeney singled to shallow center and stole second to lead off the fourth inning and Adams singled to bring her home, but Persi struck out Rosie Delrosario to get back the momentum and hold a 7-1 lead after four.
The Argonauts scored one more run as Adams drew a pickle in the top of the sixth and Megan Lawson took the opportunity to score from third. Persi struck out Delrosario for the third time to once again seize the momentum and retire five of the final six batters she faced.
Dominican will return to the diamond Monday, March 4, to take on Azusa Pacific in a doubleheader beginning at noon PST at Penguin Field. Live stats and video will be available online.
