SAN RAFAEL, Calif. – Dominican softball dropped 4-3 and 5-3 games to Holy Names in a doubleheader Saturday at Penguin Field.

Senior outfielder Vanessa Porto led the Penguins (14-16, 13-9 PacWest) with a 3-for-7 day at the plate with two RBI and a double. Sophomore outfielder Peyton Mott added a 3-for-6 performance with a triple and two stolen bases, but it wasn't enough for Dominican to take a game from the Hawks (6-12, 6-12 PacWest).

Game One

The Penguins got off to strong starts in both games. Mott tripled to left-center field after a single by senior third baseman Alyssa Ramirez to score the first run of the game. HNU responded in the bottom of the frame as Haighley Kissee doubled to left to bring in a runner from first and Olivia Lee singled to plate Kissee for the 2-1 lead.

Dominican kept the seesaw battle going as sophomore shortstop Lauren Lapinid singled to lead off the second and moved to second on a sacrifice. Sophomore infielder Faith Erb looped a ball into shallow left and then stole second to keep the pressure on the Hawks. Porto then stepped to the plate and singled to left to bring in both runners for the 3-2 lead.

Once again HNU had an answer in the bottom of the frame. Cassidy Simon was hit by a pitch and Sara Garcia singled with both moving into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt. Olivia O'Neal then sent a high fly ball into left to bring home Simon, but Mott layered it to Ramirez to catch Garcia trying to advance to third for the final out of the inning.

The game became a pitching duel as Kissee and sophomore pitcher Shelby Keltner did not allow a run over the next five innings. O'Neal and Lyndsey Widner singled to put the winning run in scoring position for the Hawks with two outs and Lee answered the call with a single to shallow right to walk off with the 4-3 victory.

Game two

Much like the first game the Penguins struck first as Porto doubled to left field in the top of the third. Senior utility Alyssa Waltman brought her home with a single to right center for the first run of the game. 

Lapinid then beat out ground ball to short for a single to keep the momentum going in the top of the fourth. Sophomore outfielder Shelby Cefalu singled to center and sophomore catcher Celeste Salas singled to left field to bring in Lapinid for the 2-0 lead. The Penguins loaded the bases but Kelsey Volkmar worked out of the jam with a strikeout and a line out.

The Hawks finally found their bats in the bottom of the fifth as Cienna Cheshier singled to short and Simon reached on a fielder's choice to put two on the base paths. O'Neal and Bailey Correa each singled to bring in two and tie the game heading to the sixth. 

HNU built on their fifth inning as Simon tripled to right-center to score one and take the 3-2 lead with two outs. Simon then came home on an error which also allowed Hannah Haynie to reach second safely. Aly Cerda singled to right to bring home one more for the 5-2 lead and the Hawks held on for the victory.

The Penguins will look to rebound Sunday as they take on the Hawks in a doubleheader beginning at noon PDT. Live coverage information is available on our schedule page.