WAIPAHU, Hawai'i – Dominican softball held off Chaminade for the 6-3 victory in the first game of a doubleheader Friday evening at Patsy T. Mink Central O'ahu Regional Park. 

Junior outfielder McKenzie Schumacher led the Penguins (4-8, 3-8 PacWest) from the plate, going 3-for-4 with two runs and a stolen base. Senior infielder Dahlen Dennis added a 2-for-4 performance from the plate, including her second home run of the season. Lauren Persi earned the victory after pitching 4.1 innings in relief with two strike outs and no runs allowed.

Malia Moisa led the SIlverswords (8-10, 5-6 PacWest) going 2-for-4 with all three RBI, a double and a home run. 

Schumacher got the Penguins off to a stronger start than its previous two days as she singled to right center and moved into scoring position when Alexis Chinchilla was hit by a pitch. Peyton Mott grounded into a fielder's choice to move to Schumacher to third and stole second to put both runners in scoring position with two outs for Dennis. Dennis stepped to the plate and sent a 2-2 pitch out of center field to make it 3-0 Dominican. 

The Silverswords were able to get lead-off runners in each of their first two frames, but both times sophomore Alyssa Waltman left the runners stranded at second to keep the Penguins in front. Chaminade finally broke through in the bottom of the third as back-to-back 2-out walks set up Moisa for a 3-run home run to left to tie the game. Persi entered in relief with a runner on second and the Silverswords drew two walks to load the bases, but Persi induced a popup to second to end the inning.

Sophomore infielder Alyssa Ramirez singled on a hard hit back to the pitcher with one out in the fourth and senior infielder Karitza Reyes added a single to left with both runners advancing on the throw home to move into scoring position with 2-outs. Porto laced a single into left on the next at bat to bring home Ramirez for the 4-3 lead and then stole second to keep the pressure on Chaminade's Kayla Higuchi, but Higuchi escaped as Ashlyn Yagin grabbed a line drive to center for the final out.

The Silverswords threatened in the bottom of the fifth as Kiana Ulufale doubled and another batter was hit by a pitch to put the go-ahead run on the bases with one out. Haley Cheek scooped up a ground ball to first and tossed it over to Mady Christensen to record the second out and Ramirez scooped up a grounder to third and sent it over to Cheek for the final out of the inning.

Porto once again found some 2-out magic, singling to left center to move Cheek to third and she advanced to second on a throw to the plate. Christensen then singled to right to bring home one run and extend the lead to 5-3 heading to the bottom of the sixth. The Penguins defense ended the bottom of the frame with a 5-4-3 double play to hold the two-run advantage heading to the final inning.

Schumacher showed her speed in the top of the seventh as she singled down the left-field line, stole second and then advanced to third on a fly ball to right. Peyton Mott then laid down a squeeze bunt to bring Schumacher home for the 6-3 lead. Persi retired the side in the bottom of the frame, striking out Ulufale for the final out of the game.