WAIPAHU, Hawai'I – Dominican softball won the first game 4-3 before dropping the second 5-4 to split a doubleheader with Chaminade for the second day in a row Saturday afternoon at Patsy T. Mink Central O'ahu Regional Park.

Senior infielder Dahlen Dennis went 5-for-7 with two RBI and a home run to lead the Penguins (5-10, 4-10 PacWest) from the plate on the day. Freshman outfielder Peyton Mott added a 3-for-8 day at the plate with two RBI and a stolen base. Junior pitcher Lauren Persi was awarded the victory in the first game to move to 3-3 on the year after allowing one earned run and striking out three in a complete game.

Marlisa Berrelleza led the Silverswords (10-11, 7-7 PacWest) with a 2-for-4 day at the plate with a home run, while Madelyn Stockslager came in relief in the second game to earn the victory after allowing no runs in 1.1 innings pitched. 

Game one

Holding a slim lead heading into the seventh, Dominican created some space after Dennis and Alyssa Waltman hit back-to-back solo shots to push the lead to 4-1 for Persi. A few errors allowed Chaminade to score two and give them one last chance to tie, but Persi struck out Makena Kealoha to leave the tying run stranded at first. 

Neither team had allowed a run through four innings, until the Penguins broke the silence in the top of the fifth. McKenzie Schumacher took advantage of a dropped fly ball to get on base and she stole second to move into scoring position. Schumacher used her speed to take third on a groundball and Mott singled down the right-field line to bring her in for the 1-0 lead. 

Chaminade answered in the bottom half of the inning as Marlisa Berrelleza with a towering home run over the center field fence to tie the game and shift the momentum back to the home squad.

Dominican took advantage of another Silversword miscue as Haley Cheek reached first on a fielding error to get on base in the top of the sixth. Karitza Reyes then laid down a perfectly placed sac bunt down the first-base line to put Cheek into scoring position and Keely Bowlan entered to pinch run to put more speed on the base paths. Vanessa Porto kept the momentum rolling for the Penguins with a walk to put two on with one out and bring Christensen to the plate. Christensen hit a ball to right center that bounced over the temporary barrier for a ground rule double to score Bowlan to retake the 2-1 lead.

Game two

The second game was as close as the first with the teams exchanging leads over the final few innings. The Silverswords made use of the last frame as Hailey Matsumura and Alexis Velazquez each singled to put runners on the corners with no outs. Cheyne Obara hit the walk-off single to right center to break the tie for the 5-4 win. 

The Penguins used small ball techniques to get the scoring started in the first inning. Christensen reached base safely for the fifth straight game on four straight balls to lead off and Schumacher beat out a drag bunt to the third baseman on the following at bat. Both advanced into scoring position on Alexis Chinchilla's sacrifice bunt, before Mott singled to left field on a full count to bring in the first run of the game. Dennis then sent a high fly ball to right field to bring in Schumacher on the sacrifice fly to make it 2-0 heading to the bottom of the frame. 
 
Ashlyn Yagin led off the bottom half of the inning with a walk and Rainelle Matsuoka followed with a single to center to get Chaminade off to a strong start as well. Malia Ka'akimaka-Moisa continued the rally with a single up the middle, allowing Yagin to score on a muffed catch on the relay home. Berrelleza walked to load the bases before Alyssa Waltman struck out Velazquez for the first out of the inning. b Kealoha singled to bring around Matsuoka for the tie and Matsumura hit a sacrifice fly to center to give the Silverswords a 3-2 lead.
 
After the pitchers ruled the next four innings, Dennis led off the top of the sixth with a single to left field, and advanced on a wild pitch to move into scoring position. Alyssa Ramirez laid down a sacrifice bunt to move Dennis 60 feet from tying the game. Cheek attempted a squeeze bunt to bring Dennis in to score, but the third baseman successfully flipped the ball to the catcher to tag Dennis out at home for the second out of the inning. Persi came in to pinch hit for Reyes and singled down the right field line and advanced to second on the throw to put two runners into scoring position. The Penguins drew three straight walks to bring in two runs and take the 4-3 lead heading into the bottom of the sixth. 

Alexas Presto-Ahsing walked and advanced on a sacrifice bunt as Chaminade played some small ball in an attempt to tie. After Matsuoka singled to move her to third, Ka'akimaka-Moisa flied out to right field to bring Presto-Ahsing home for the tying run. 

The Penguins will enjoy a much needed off day on the islands in preparation for their last leg of the road trip. They will face Hawai'i Pacific University on Monday with the first pitch scheduled for 1 p.m. HST. Live stats will be available online.