LAS VEGAS— Dominican softball suffered two losses on opening day of the 2020 season, falling 5-21 to Northwest Nazarene University (1-1) and 6-12 to Saint Martin's University (2-0) Friday night at Majestic Park in Las Vegas.
 
Despite the losses for the Penguins (0-2), sophomore outfielder Peyton Mott, redshirt sophomore Ebony Garza, and senior infielder Mady Christensen shined in their season debut. Mott erupted at the plate, going 5-for-7 on the day, earning four RBI, two runs, and a grand slam against Saint Martin's. Garza finished the day going 3-for-6 with two runs, two RBI and a walk. Christensen recorded two hits on the day, while also earning three walks and an RBI.
 
Game one versus Northwest Nazarene University
 
Emma Mulligan and Ivy Hommel led off the top of the first for the Nighthawks drawing two straight walks against Dominican freshman pitcher Shelby Keltner. Brittany Genuardi followed with a double to right field to score both runners, giving NNU a quick 2-0 lead, and Dominican Head Coach Juliana Santos brought in junior pitcher Alyssa Waltman to relieve Keltner. Waltman retired the next three batters to help the Penguins escape the jam. 
 
Schumacher sparked Dominican's offense in the bottom of the first, drawing a walk and stealing second to move into scoring position for Garza. Garza singled to left field, and Schumacher was able to make it home after a fielding error by the left fielder to cut Dominican's deficit to just one run. 
 
In the top of the second, Northwest Nazarene continued to dominate offensively as Maia McNicoll and Emma Longoria led off the inning with two singles, and with two outs, Hommel came through once again with a single up the middle to score McNicoll to bring the Nighthawks' lead to 3-1. Genuardi came up big for the Nighthawks, earning her second double of the night over the head of Schumacher in center to score Longoria. Schumacher retrieved the long ball and hit the cutoff to nail Hommel at the plate for the third out of the inning. 
 
Young retired three straight Dominican batters, and in the top of the third with Emilie Hernandez on first, McNicoll homered to extend Northwest Nazarene's lead to 6-1. NNU continued to apply pressure on Dominican's defense in the top of the fourth as Abigail Gagnon singled off sophomore pitcher Rosa Leguria and advanced into scoring position on a wild pitch to Mulligan. Mulligan singled up the middle, and both Gagnon and Mulligan advanced on an off-target throw from Schumacher. Hommel came through once more for the Nighthawks, sending a single to right, and Gagnon and Mulligan were able to score on the throwing error from Vanessa Porto in right field to earn a 8-1 lead over Dominican. Schumacher helped the Penguins escape the inning, throwing out Madison Felter at third base off a single from Young. 
 
In the bottom of the fifth, the Penguins added to their score as Helena Harris and Christensen earned back-to-back doubles to cut the deficit to 8-2, but NNU quickly ended the Penguins' momentum as Jackie Vargas forced Ramirez to fly out for the final out of the inning. 
 
In the top of the sixth the Nighthawks would break the game wide-open by scoring 13 runs on 11 hits to extend their lead to 21-2. The Penguins returned in the bottom half of the inning to score three on a single from Mott and took advantage on a throwing error from Gagnon. Mott ended up scoring on a sac fly from Waltman, but it wasn't enough before Schriever forced Harris to ground out for the final out of the game. 
 
Game two versus Saint Martin's University
 
The Penguins got off to a quick start as Christensen earned a lead-off walk and scored on a double from Garza to left center to give Dominican a 1-0 lead in the first inning. 
 
Saint Martin's retaliated in the bottom half of the inning as Emery Norwood earned a lead-off walk, and after advancing to third on a groundout from Nicki DeHan, scored on a single to right center from Olivia Schmidt to tie the game, 1-1. Julia Lucas kept he momentum rolling for Saint Martin's, doubling to left field, scoring Kylie Lopez to take the 2-1 lead. The Saints took advantage of Dominican's miscues as Schmidt scored on a wild pitch from Lauren Persi and an error from the Harris on a single from Regan Byrd allowed Lucas to come around to score, extending SMU's lead to 4-1.
 
With two outs in the top of the third, the Penguins' offense came alive as Ramirez knocked in Schumacher from second on a single to center field. Two straight walks from Garza and Lauren Lapinid loaded the bases for Mott. Mott unloaded, sending a homerun over the centerfield fence to help the Penguins take a 6-4 lead over the Saints.
 
SMU retaliated in the bottom of the fourth as Norwood and DeHan led off with straight singles, and with the bases loaded, Lucas doubled down the right field line to bring DeHan and Norwood around to score. Byrd, Delaney Sager, and Destiny Conerly continued the run, sending three straight singles through the infield, scoring Emily Thornton, Schmidt, and Byrd to give Saint Martin's a 9-6 lead. 
 
A two-run homer from Lopez on a full count extended the Saints' lead to 11-6 in the bottom of the fifth. With two outs in the sixth, Conerly pinch-ran for Lauren Lunt and made her way to third on a stolen base and wild pitch. Kylee Vanderbout singled down the left field line to score Conerly to bring the score to 12-6.
 
The penguins return to the diamond tomorrow afternoon as they take on Concordia University of Oregon and Montana State University Billings at 2 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. PST on day two of the Desert Stinger Softball Tournament at Majestic Park in Las Vegas. Live stats will be available online.