LA MIRADA, Calif. – Dominican softball returned to Southern California a year after the pandemic ended their Southern California road trip in 2020 and fell 6-1 and 2-0 to Biola on Friday Night at Freedom Field.
Sophomore pitcher
Shelby Keltner was outstanding despite the loss as she allowed two runs and struck out six for the Penguins (6-4, 6-4 PacWest). Senior outfielder
Vanessa Porto went 1-for-3 with the lone RBI of the evening for Dominican in the first game. The Eagles (7-7, 5-5 PacWest) rode the arm of Paige Austin in the first game who allowed one run and three hits, while Raylene Roybal earned the complete game shutout in the nightcap.
Game One
Kylie Velasco, Jennifer Morinishi and Kayla Neff followed a leadoff walk with consecutive singles for Biola to bring in two runs with no outs in the bottom of the first.
Alyssa Waltman quickly ended the offensive momentum as she snagged a line drive at first base, touched her base and threw to second to turn the inning-ending triple play.
After a single and a pair of walks loaded the bases for the Eagles in the bottom of the second, Ruth Munoz poked a single into left-center to bring in the runner from third to extend the lead to 3-0 with one out. Once again the Penguin defense stepped up as Porto grabbed a fly ball in right and threw home to hold the runner before a groundout ended the inning to keep them within striking distance.
Senior third baseman
Alyssa Ramirez singled to left with two outs in the top of the third and moved to second on a wild pitch, but Austin left her stranded as she got the next batter swinging to maintain the lead. The Eagles would end up extending the lead with a 2-out rally in the fifth as they loaded the bases and Rilee Ruvalcaba and Kylee Messmer each singled to bring in three more for the 6-0 lead.
The Penguins finally got on the board in the top of the seventh as Porto singled up the middle to bring in
Helena Harris from second for their lone run of the game.
Game Two
The second game was a pitcher's duel between Keltner and Roybal as neither team was able to get a base runner in the first two innings. Roybal helped her own cause in the bottom of the third with an infield single with Allie Beck and Munoz singling on the next two at bats to load the bases with one out. Keltner worked out of the jam as Lapinid scooped a grounder and threw home for an out and a soft groundout to Waltman at first ended the threat.
Senior infielder
Mady Christensen became the first Penguin baserunner in the top of the fourth as she led off with a single to right center, but three consecutive pop ups let Roybal keep the game scoreless. Sophomore catcher
Celeste Salas followed suit with a single to left to lead off the fifth, but once again Roybal worked out of the jam retiring the next three runners.
Ramirez reached on a throwing error with two outs in the top of the sixth and advanced to second as the ball made its way into right field, while sophomore outfielder
Peyton Mott singled to short on the next at bat to put runners on the corners for Dominican. Roybal was there once again to protect the lead as a foul out left both runners stranded.
The Eagles finally broke through in the bottom of the sixth as three consecutive singles loaded the bases with no outs. Biola then executed a triple steal to bring one run home and Abie Nowak made it 2-0 with a sacrifice fly. It was all the room Roybal needed as she retired the side in the top of the seventh for the win.
Dominican will return to the diamond Saturday to conclude its series with Biola in a doubleheader beginning at noon PDT. Live coverage information can be found on the schedule page.
