TURLOCK, Calif. – Dominican softball split on its first day of the Tournament of Champions falling 4-2 to Wester Oregon before claiming the 3-1 victory in the nightcap against Northwest Nazarene.
Kathryn Caravalho claimed the win in the second game after allowing one run with three strikeouts in a complete game of work.
Caitlyn Perales went 2-for-3 with two RBI and a double to lead the Penguins (13-24) from the plate in its victory.
Celeste Salas added a 2-for-4 day from the plate with two RBI as she played in both games for Dominican.
Game one
The Wolves got out to an early lead in the first game as Logan Carlos walked and moved into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt with Zoie Recolan stepping to the plate. Recolan laced a single back up the middle and Carlos crossed the plate for the 1-0 lead after one inning.
The Penguins threatened in the bottom of the second as
Shelby Keltner singled to right before
Peyton Mott reached on an error on a dropped fly ball by the second baseman to put two runners on with one out. Chelsea Smith worked her way out of the jam for WOU with back-to-back strikeouts.
Neither team could generate much offense over the ensuing three innings as the pitchers controlled the game.
Faith Erb made a magnificient defensive play to end the top of the fifth as she snagged a line drive and then threw to
Alicia Garcia at first to catch the runner off the bag for a double play.
The Wolves got their offense rolling in the top of the sixth as Natalie Willoughby singled and Kirah McGlothlan doubled to put runners on second and third with one out. Sophie Franklin singled up the middle to bring one runner home but some poor relays by the Penguin infield allowed McGlothlan to score and Franklin to move to third on the play as WOU took the 3-0 lead. Maddie Brandner then singled down the first-base line to bring home Franklin for the 4-0 lead before Dominican could record the final two outs.
Lauren Lapinid and
Melissa Garcia singled to right center and left field respectively to lead off the bottom of the frame as the Penguins looked to answer. After A. Garcia walked to load the bases, Salas singled to center to bring home Dominican's first run of the game. Keltner then drove home another with a deep fly out to left to cut the deficit in half at 4-2. Smith righted the ship sitting down the next two batters to leave two stranded and then retired the side in the bottom of the seventh to earn the victory.
Game two
Lapinid doubled to right center to lead off the second game as the Penguins looked to get some momentum on offense. After Sidney Booth retired the next two batters, Salas singled up the middle for the clutch RBI to take the 1-0 lead. Ivy Hommel singled down the left-field line with one out in the bottom of the inning as the Nighthawks looked for a response, but Caravalho scooped up a groundball from Booth and quickly threw to Lapinid at second base who relayed it to A. Garcia at first in an inning ending double play.
Emilie Hernandez singled to third to lead off the bottom of the third and advanced to third base after Madison Felter singled up the middle with one out. Caravalho once again worked her way out of the jam as she caught the next batter swinging before Erb scooped up a groundball and threw to first for the final out of the inning.
After both teams left runners in scoring position in the fourth and fifth innings, Booth drew a walk to lead off the bottom of the sixth and Siolo Church came in to pinch run for her as the Nighthawks looked to tie the game before their chances ran out. A sacrifice bunt moved Siolo to second and she moved to third on Abigail Gagnon's flyout to left. Tori Hensley entered to pinch hit for NNU in the pressure packed moment and delivered a single to right center to tie the game.
Dominican wasted no time in its response as A. Garcia doubled to right to lead off the seventh.
Mady Salonga then singled to left center before moving to second on a groundout to third base. Perales stepped to the plate and fell behind in the count 1-2 before sending a ball into the right-center gap to score both runners and retake the lead 3-1.
The Nighthawks had one last chance as Emma Mulligan singled to left field with two outs and Hommel reached on a drop fly ball to put the tying run on base. Caravalho though took care of business inducing a popup that
Bella Romani secured for the victory.
Dominican will return to Pedretti Sports Complex for a second doubleheader Saturday as it takes on Central Washington at 4:30 p.m. PDT before facing Chico State at 7 p.m.
