BRISBANE, Calif. – Dominican softball split a doubleheader with Academy of Art on Saturday afternoon dropping the first 3-0 before rebounding for a 7-2 victory in the second game.
 
Sophomore outfielder Peyton Mott continued her blistering start from the plate going 3-for-5 for the day with three stolen bases and three runs. Sophomore shortstop Lauren Lapinid and freshman outfielder McKenna Daley each went 2-for-3 with two RBI and a double to lead the Penguins (3-1) in the second game. Senior utility Alyssa Waltman (1-0) earned the victory from the circle in the second game with five scoreless innings pitched.
 
Game One
After a scoreless first inning, the Urban Knights struck first in the bottom of the second inning. Lauryn Henderson walked to lead off the frame and Neenah Pangilinan tripled down the left-field line with 2-outs to bring her home for the 1-0 lead.
 
Dominican looked to strike back in the top of the third as senior outfielder Vanessa Porto drew a walk and senior infielder Mady Christensen singled to left to put runners at first and second with one out. ART U got out of the jam by turning the inning-ending double play. Gabi Hirsch then led off the bottom of the inning with a single through the right side and then stole second and third base to get into scoring position with no outs. Bethany Mitchell singled up the middle to bring her home for the 2-0 lead.
 
The Penguins once again looked poised to score in the fourth as Lapinid reached on an error and Mott walked with sophomore utility Shelby Cefalu placing down a sacrifice bunt to put both runners into scoring position. Dominican attempted a squeeze play but pitcher Hannah Balke scooped up the bunt and tossed it home for the out and then struck out a batter to end the threat.  
 
Mitchell scored the final run of the game for the Urban Knights after reaching on a fielder's choice and advancing to second on a wild pitch. Chelsea Sligh singled to center to bring her home for the 3-0 lead.
 
Game two
Dominican started strong in the second game as senior third basemen Alyssa Ramirez doubled to center to lead off the second and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt to move 60-feet from the plate. Daley brought her home with single to third base for the 1-0 lead.
 
Waltman retired the side in the bottom of the inning and sophomore infielder Faith Erb singled to lead off the top of the third. Erb then stole second and third to quickly move in scoring position. Mott drew a walk and stole second, but a throwing error allowed Erb to come home and Mott moved to third. Ramirez and Lapinid hit back-to-back doubles to bring in two more for the 4-0 lead.
 
After sophomore catcher Celeste Salas caught Alyssa Rasmussen stealing to end the bottom of the frame, Mott singled and stole second for Dominican with one out in the fourth. Lapinid then singled to center to bring her home and advanced to second on the throw. A fielding error allowed Lapinid to round the bases for the 6-0 lead.
 
Dominican once again cleared the base paths to end the fourth as Lapinid scooped up a groundball stepped on second and threw to first for the inning-ending double play. The Urban Knights put runs on the board in the bottom of the sixth as Maddie Sticka and Hirsch singled to lead off the inning and then moved up the base paths on a wild pitch. Katie Humphreys singled up the middle to bring both home, but they were unable to get any closer.
 
Porto doubled through the right side in the top of the seventh and came home on a single from Daley for the final run of the game.
 
Dominican will return to the diamond Friday to take on Holy Names in a doubleheader beginning at Noon PDT at Penguin Field. Live stat coverage is available on our schedule page.