SAN RAFAEL, Calif. – Dominican softball was unable to complete a late inning rally in a 5-2 loss to Northwest Nazarene before dropping its second game of the day 9-1 to Concordia University Irvine on Saturday afternoon at Penguin Field.
 
Senior third baseman Alyssa Ramirez led the Penguins (11-13) with a 3-for-6 day from the plate with a run. Sophomore outfielder Peyton Mott added a 2-for-4 day at the plate with a double and an RBI.
 
Game One
Sophomore pitcher Shelby Keltner and the Nighthawks' Jakie Vargas began the game in a pitching duel. After both pitchers left a runner stranded in the first, Maia Micnicoll reached on an error and Abigail Gagnon laid down a bunt single to put two runners on with no outs for NNU in the top of the second. Keltner quickly regained the upper hand as she struck out the next batter swinging with a sacrifice bunt advancing both runners into scoring position. Keltner returned to strike out the final batter to leave both stranded.
 
The Nighthawks worked themselves into another scoring opportunity in the third as Brittany Genuardi singled and Sidney Booth walked to put one in scoring position with two outs. The Penguins looked to have the final out but a dropped ball at second allowed Genuardi to touch home for the 1-0 lead.
 
After Keltner struck out three in the fourth, Peyton Mott doubled in the bottom of the frame to get the tying run in scoring position for the Penguins, but Vargas induced a groundout to second to get out of the jam. Genuardi once again sparked NNU with a double to left in the top of the fifth and Booth followed up with a single to bring her home for the 2-0 lead. The Penguins locked in on defense to record the final two outs and remain in striking position.
 
Sophomore catcher Celeste Salas was hit by a pitch to lead off the bottom of the fifth and sophomore designated player Shelby Cefalu doubled to deep center to put both in scoring position with no outs. However, base running mishaps left Dominican without any runs to show for the early inning success.
 
The Penguins continued to threaten as senior outfielder Vanessa Porto walked to put a runner on to start the sixth while senior third baseman Alyssa Ramirez singled to right to keep the pressure on. Freshman outfield Peyton Mott doubled to left to bring in one on the next at bat, while sophomore shortstop Lauren Lapinid successfully put down a squeeze bunt to bring home Ramirez for the tie.
 
The momentum was short lived as Ivy Hommel led off the top of the seventh with a home run to left and Booth followed with a homer to center to regain the 5-2 advantage as Gina Skinner closed out the game for the Nighthawks from the circle to claim the victory.
 
Game Two
It was all Eagles to begin the second game as Megan Massa singled and McKinsey Thorpe doubled to put two runs in scoring position with no outs. A groundout brought home Massa and Sydney Sprinkle singled to bring in Thorpe for the 2-0 lead.
 
After an error and a walk put two runners on in the top of the second, Massa and Sydni Dix singled to each bring in a run while a groundout brought home one more to extend the lead to 5-0. After the Eagles loaded the bases in the third, Massa singled down the left field line to plate two and an error allowed two more to come home for the 9-0 lead.
 
Dominican finally got on the board in the bottom of the third as senior utility Alyssa Waltman walked and Ramirez singled to right to put runners on the corners. A wild pitch brought home Waltman but Kelsea Sweeney worked out of the jam to prevent any more damage. Madison Urrutia entered the game for CUI in relief and allowed two baserunners in the final two frames to preserve the victory.
 
Dominican will resume its play against the PacWest Northern California Pod as it heads to Academy of Art for a doubleheader Friday beginning at noon PDT at Mission Blue Field. Live coverage information will be available on the schedule page.