IRVINE, Calif. – Dominican softball was unable to cash in on early opportunities and fell 2-0 to Western Washington on the final day of the Concordia Kickoff Classic on Sunday at Great Park.
Lauren Lapinid led the way for the Penguin (2-3) offense going 1-for-2 with a walk while
Shelby Keltner continued her strong play from the circle allowing only one earned run in seven innings of work. Kinzey Williams powered the Vikings (3-2) with a 3-for-4 day from the plate while Mareena Ramirez earned the victory pitching 5.2 scoreless innings in relief.
Dominical looked like they would jump ahead early as
Melissa Garcia reached base safely on an error to lead off the game before Lapinid and
Annabelle Burke each singled to load the bases with one out. Alexis Slater got out of the jam for WWU as she struck out the next two batters swinging to keep the game scoreless.
After Keltner retired the side for the second consecutive inning to begin the second, Kama Kaleikini singled through the right side and
Celeste Salas got down a sacrifice bunt to move the runner into scoring position once again with one out.
Faith Erb drew a walk on the next at bat to put two on, but Ramirez came in and got the final two outs of the inning to preserve the tie.
Keltner continued to make quick work of the Vikings in the top of the third and fourth to give her team the chance to take the lead.
Alicia Garcia singled through the left side to lead off the fourth and made her way to second and then third on wild pitches. Mary Salonga came in to pinch hit with two outs and battled back from an 0-2 count to draw a walk putting runners on the corners, but Ramirez got the next batter swinging to end the threat.
Struggling to solve Keltner's pitching, WWU turned to bunts getting two singles placing it on the third base line with a third pushed just between third and the pitcher to load the bases with no outs. Isabel Cargill brought home the first run of the game on a long fly ball to center field and one more would cross the plate on an errant throw down to second on a steal attempt to give the Vikings the 2-0 lead. Ramirez then sealed the deal retiring the side in the next two innings to move to 2-0 on the year.
Dominican will return to the diamond Friday to take on Sonoma State in a doubleheader beginnning at noon PST at Seawolf Softball Field in Rohnert Park.
