SAN RAFAEL, Calif. – Dominican softball shutout Academy of Art for 1-0 and 4-0 victories in a doubleheader sweep Friday afternoon at Penguin Field.
 
Shelby Keltner (1-0) outdueled Cecilia Lopez in the first game from the circle, allowing three hits and striking out nine in a shutout. Junior pitcher Kathryn Caravalho recorded the victory from the circle in the second game allowing four hits and striking out four in 4.2 innings pitched. She combined with junior pitcher Rosa Leguria for the shutout as Leguria did not allow a base runner in 2.1 innings pitched for the save. Sophomore outfielder Peyton Mott led the Penguins (2-0) from the plate going 3-for-6 with a double, a home run and three RBI.
 
Game One
Keltner started the game strong with two strike outs in the first inning to give the Penguins some momentum heading into the bottom of the frame. Senior Mady Christensen singled up the middle and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt to get into scoring position, but Lopez induced a pair of ground outs to escape the jam.
 
In the top of the second, the Penguins flashed the defensive leather as Christensen scooped up a sharp grounder through to sophomore Lauren Lapinid at second who fired to senior Alyssa Waltman to complete an inning ending double play. Mott then led off the bottom of the frame with a line drive home run over left center to take the 1-0 lead.
 
Once again, the defense showed up in the top of the third as a Alyssa Rasmussen attempted to steal second but Neenah Pangilinan popped up in foul territory to Waltman who turned and threw to Christensen at first to clear the bases. Keltner jammed Gabi Hirsch into a foul pop up that freshman catcher Celeste Salas secured to end the inning.
 
The rest of the game became a pitching duel and Keltner was commanding not allowing a runner into scoring position over the final six frames. She capped off her day striking out the side in the seventh to secure the victory.
 
Game two
Bethany Mitchell singled and moved to second after Lauryn Henderson was hit by a pitch with two outs in the top of the first. Sophomore pitcher Kathryn Caravalho quickly shut down the scoring opportunity as she struck out Chelsea Sligh swinging to send the game tied 0-0 into the bottom of the inning.
 
Freshman outfielder McKenna Daley then singled up the middle and moved to second on a passed ball with one out in the bottom of the frame to get Dominican into scoring position. Lapinid then tripled to deep center to bring her home for the 1-0 lead.
 
Caravalho kept the momentum going in the second inning striking out the first two batters looking before a popout ended the inning. Daley led off the bottom of the third inning with a walk and then stole second and third to get into scoring position with one out. Peyton Mott doubled to center to bring her home for the 2-0 Dominican lead.
 
Caravalho kept the Urban Knights off the board once again in the top of the fourth and Salas singled to right center to lead off the bottom of the frame. Sophomore Faith Erb entered as a pinch runner and stole second then moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by senior outfielder Vanessa Porto. Erb then came home on a sacrifice fly to make it 3-0 heading to the fifth.
 
Hirsch doubled to left center with one out in the top of the fifth to get ART U back in scoring position, but Caravalho struck out the next better to push it to two outs. Junior pitcher Rosa Leguria then entered the circle in relief with two on and two out and got Henderson to line out to first to end the threat. The Penguins once again increased their lead in the bottom of the frame as Mott singled to left to bring in Lapinid from second for the 4-0 lead.
 
Leguria did not allow another base runner in the final two frames to earn the save and give Dominican the sweep.
 
The Penguins and Urban Knights will face off again Saturday in a doubleheader beginning at Noon PST at Mission Blue Field in Brisbane. Live stat and video information is available on our schedule page.