SAN RAFAEL, Calif. – Dominican softball split its games Wednesday, the first day of the Pacific West Conference Automatic Qualifier Pod Series, at Penguin Field. The Penguins (17-17) defeated the University of Hawai'i at Hilo 5-2 to open the day before dropping a 9-3 contest to No. 11 Concordia University Irvine.

Senior third baseman Alyssa Ramirez led Dominican at the plate going 4-for-8 on the day with two runs and a double. Junior outfielder Peyton Mott added a 3-for-7 day at the plate with two runs and a triple. Sophomore pitcher Shelby Keltner moved to 9-8 on the season after allowing two runs and striking out six in a complete game of work.

Game one

The Penguins got off to a strong start on the day as Ramirez doubled down the left field line with two outs and Mott followed with a 13-pitch walk to put two runners on in the top of the first. Sophomore shortstop Lauren Lapinid then launched a deep fly ball over the left field fence to jump out to the 3-0 lead.

Kiarra Lincoln led off the bottom of the first for the Vulcans (16-10) with a double to left center moving to third on a sacrifice bunt. Lincoln crossed the plate two pitches later on a sacrifice fly to cut the deficit to 3-1. The game became a pitching duel after that as Keltner struck out the last batter swinging and then struck out two more in the second to maintain her lead.

Neither team could move a runner past second until the top of the sixth as the pitcher's dominated the game. Lapinid singled to right center and freshman McKenna Daley entered to pinch hit sending a ball to the fence in right center for a triple to make it 4-1. Senior utility Alyssa Waltman then laid down a perfect squeeze bunt with Daley sliding in under the tag for the 5-1 lead. Chloe Domingo got one back for Hilo in the bottom of the frame with a home run to left center.

The Vulcans then threatened to tie the game in the bottom of the seventh as it put runners on first and second with one out. Keltner battled back from a 3-0 count to strike Lincoln out swinging for the second out. Lapinid then caught a pop fly at short to seal the victory for the Penguins.

 Game two
The Eagles grabbed control of the second game as Missy Nemeth singled up the middle to score a runner from second for the first run of the game. Jocelyn Pino doubled down the left-field line to score one more and give CUI the 2-0 lead, but sophomore Shelby Cefalu threw home to hold the runner at third to limit the damage.

The Penguins were able to put runners on the corners in the bottom of the first, but Callie Nunes left them stranded inducing an inning-ending popout. Lauren Lopez singled to lead off the second for the Eagles and made her way to third on a sacrifice bunt and a wild pitch. Megan Massa then sent a long fly ball to left to bring her home for the 3-0 lead.

Dominican continued to threaten to close the gap loading the bases in the third and putting runners on second and third in the fourth, but both times Nunes worked her way out of the jam to maintain the lead. The Eagles struck again in the fifth as Pino homered to right center with two outs to score two and extend the lead to 5-0. CUI added a run in the sixth and three more in the top of the seventh to widen the gap.

The Penguins finally got the clutch hitting they needed in the bottom of the seventh as Lapinid singled on a laser through the left side to score Christensen from third. Back-to-back errors then allowed the Penguins to plate two more runs, but hopes of a comeback died as the Eagles turned a double play to end it.

Dominican will return to the diamond Thursday to take on CUI at 1 p.m. PST followed by a game against Hilo at 3 p.m. PST at Penguin Field. Live coverage information will be available on the schedule page.