SAN RAFAEL, Calif. – Dominican softball swept Holy Names University on Monday afternoon with a 5-2 win in game one before its first run-shortened victory of the season in the second game at 8-0 in six innings at Penguin field.
The Penguins (12-33, 9-24 PacWest) were led by stellar pitching performances from freshmen
Rosa Leguria and
Kathryn Caravalho. Leguria earned a complete game victory in game one, scattering six hits and allowing two runs. Caravalho recorded the first shutout of her Dominican career allowing five hits in the second game. Freshman outfielder
Peyton Mott went 3-for-6 from the plate with two runs and two RBI. Senior catcher
Alexis Chinchilla added a 4-for-5 day with one run.
The Hawks (13-32, 12-22 PacWest) were led by Haighley Kissee and Lydnsey Widner who each went 3-for-6 day at the plate with one run.
Game one
The Hawks got out to an early lead as Widner led off the game with a double to left and Kissee singled through the left side to advance Widner to third. Kissee and Widner executed a double steal with Widner getting caught in a rund down but a mental error at the plater allowed her to score and Kissee took third. With two outs, Fontes singled up the middle to bring home Kissee and extend the HNU advantage to 2-0.
In the bottom of the third, the Penguins retaliated as
Mady Christensen drew a leadoff walk. Mott singled on a swinging bunt to Goods at short and she beat out the throw to first for the infield hit. Cheek then sent a curving a liner down the right field line to score Christensen and cut the deficit in half. After Cheek stole second, Dennis came through with a sac fly to left field to bring home Mott for the tie.
Alyssa Ramirez then came through with a clutch single up the middle with two outs to bring home Cheek for the 3-2 lead.
After a scoreless fourth inning, Dominican extended its lead in the bottom of the fifth. Mott led off the frame with a walk and Cheek reached safely after her sacrifice bunt attempt was mishandled by the Olivia O'Neal at first. Ramirez then flew out to left to bring Mott across the plate again to make it 4-2 Dominican.
In the bottom of the sixth inning, Christensen beat out a dropped third strike and Cheek singled to center to put runners on the corners. The Penguins then tried the double steal and Cheek drew a pickle between first and second, but the shortstop muffed a throw and the ball made its way to the outfield as Christensen snuck home to extend the Penguins' lead to three.
The Hawks attempted a 2-out rally in the seventh, but
Karitza Reyes was in the right spot to back up an errant throw and she caught Tailor Goods in a pickle for the final out as she attempted to take home.
Game Two
Dominican rode the momentum to early success in the second game as
Dahlen Dennis led off the bottom of the second with a single to shallow right. Ramirez bunted her over to second and Chinchilla singled to right field to put runners on the corners. Reyes reached safely on an error at short to bring home Dennis and prolong the inning. The Penguins took full advantage of the extra at bats as Christensen singled up the middle to bring across Chinchilla and Reyes for the 3-0 lead. Schumacher then doubled to the left-center gap to score Christensen for the 4-0 advantage.
HNU looked to get some momentum going in the fifth as a hit by pitch and back-to-back singles from Widner and O'Neal loaded the bases with one out. Caravalho stood tall through the jam and retired the next two batters without a run crossing the plate on a pop up and a fly out.
The Penguins attacked the Hawks once again in the bottom of the sixth as three straight singles from Chinchilla, Reyes and Waltman loaded the bases to lead off the frame. Schumacher roped a ball down the right-field line to bring home Reyes for the 5-0 lead. Mott kept the rally going with a sharply hit ball through the middle to score Christensen and Waltman and put the game a run away from ending early. Cheek doubled to the left-center fence on a hard hit to score Schumacher easily from second for the 8-0 dagger to end the game.
The Penguins will look to continue their win streak this Saturday as they host Academy of Art University for Senior Day. First pitch is scheduled for noon PDT. Live audio and stats will be available online.
