IRVINE, Calif. – Dominican softball opened the season with a 5-1 victory Friday over Northwest Nazarene at the Great Park.
Shelby Keltner led the way from the plate and the circle as she went 2-for-4 with two RBI and a double while tossing nine strikeouts over a complete game of work.
Caitlyn Perales added a 2-for-3 day at the plate with two RBI and a double of her own. Abigail Gagnon drove in the lone run for the Nighthawks on a single in the first inning. Tori Hensley pitched 4.1 innings allowing 2 earned runs before being chased from the game in a loss from the circle.
Maia McNicoll singled to shallow right with one out to give NNU the first hit of the game and put runners on first and second with no outs in the bottom of the first. Keltner settled in striking out Sydney Booth on the next at bat and
Celeste Salas caught the runner at second in a pickle as they looked to advance for the second out, but McNicoll was able to advance to second on a throwing error to move into scoring position with two outs. Gagnon stepped to the plate and roped a single back up the middle to bring her home for the 1-0 lead, but Keltner limited the damage getting a fly out to right to end the inning.
Faith Erb led off the top of the fourth with a single up the middle and quickly advanced to second on a slow groundout to second on the next pitch.
Alicia Garcia then reached safely as a shallow pop up landed just behind the pitcher and out of reach of the second baseman to put two runners on. Keltner then stepped to the plate and doubled to the wall in left center to bring home both runners and give herself the lead.
Celeste Salas singled to keep the pressure on with one out but Hensley worked her way out of the jam with back-to-back groundouts to third to end the threat.
Keltner made sure she maintained the lead as she struck out the final two batters swinging in the bottom of the frame to leave a runner stranded at first. Keltner continued to get stronger as the game went on striking out two more in the bottom of the fifth while allowing no base runners.
Garcia singled on a hard hit ball just outside the diving reach of the shortstop to lead off the top of the sixth and Keltner sent the eighth pitch she saw in the next at bat through the left side to put runners on first and second. Kama Kaleikini also made the pitcher work as she overcame an 0-2 hole to earn an 11-pitch walk to load the bases. Anabelle Burke came in to pinch-hit and the freshman made the most of her opportunity dropping a soft line drive into left field to score one. Perales then laced a single to right center to score two more and extend the Penguin lead to 5-1. Gina Skinner came on for the Nighthawks to end the inning from the circle as she induced a pair of groundouts to prevent further Penguin runs.
Keltner made sure the leads were for insurance only as she did not allow a hit in the bottom of the frame and then closed the door in the seventh with a pair of strikeouts to cap her day.
Dominican will return to the field for its second game of the day at 4:30 p.m. PST at the Great Park.
