SAN RAFAEL, Calif. – Dominican softball fell in a pair of 3-0 decisions Saturday to Concordia University Irvine at Penguin Field.
Shelby Keltner pitched a masterful game to open the series going eight innings and striking out six for the Penguins (5-5, 0-2 PacWest) but could not get the run support she needed to earn the victory.
Annabelle Burke had the best day of the plate going 2-for-3 with a double in the second game.
Game One
Dominican looked to get an early start as
Tiare Guerrero reached on an error and
Melissa Garcia walked to put a pair of runners on to lead off the bottom of the first.
Morgan Saucedo then put down a perfect bunt that followed the first base line and looked like she might reach first safely but Missy Nemeth swiped and got a touch on her as she passed by to get the first out but both runners advanced into scoring position. Katlin Entrup locked in from there striking out the next two batters to end the threat.
The Golden Eagles (9-4, 2-0 PacWest) got themselves in a similar situation in the top of the second as a single and an error put runners on before a sacrifice bunt moved the runners into scoring position. Saucedo made a great defensive play scooping up a groundball on the next at bat and placing the ball perfectly to
Hayley Gano behind the plate for the tag on the lead runner for the second out of the inning. Keltner then got the next batter swinging to leave two runners stranded.
With runners on second and third with one out in the top of the fifth, Gano made a heads up play as she caught Mia Saucedo off the bag at third on a failed squeeze bunt getting her out on a pickle for the second out. Kaleikini then fielded a groundball at third for the final out of the frame to keep the score tied 0-0.
The difference in the game came on the eight as a single and a hit by pitch put a pair of runners on for Cortney Koelmans. Keltner got her into a 2-2 count and she skied a ball into shallow left field but miscommunication between short and the left fielder allowed the ball to land safely between the pair to bring home two runs. Missy Nemeth then doubled down the right-field line to score one more for the final margin.
Game Two
Jessica Im led off the second game with a single up the middle and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt. It looked like the Penguins would get out of the jam as Michala Robison hit a long fly ball to center field that
Melissa Garcia had a good line on leaping and nearly robbing a home run but failed to secure the ball though preventing it from going over and allowing only a single run to cross the plate.
Taylor Rodriguez then caught the next batter looking to keep the game close.
Dominican was able to get runners on the base paths but a series of good plays by the CUI infield resulted in multiple double plays that ended the threats and kept them in the lead. After a pair of runners got on in the top of the third with two outs, Audrey Robles singled to center and an error on the fielding attempt allowed two more runs to cross for the Golden Eagles. Guerrero doubled with some heads up baserunning as she caught the defenders sleeping to get a runner in scoring position for the Penguins in the bottom of the frame with an error allowing her to move to third, but Koelmans was able to field a sharply hit ball back to the circle and throw to first for the final out of the inning.
Dominican had one more offensive burst in the bottom of the seventh as Burke doubled off the fence in left with two outs and Keltner drew a walk to bring the tying run to the plate.
Jayla Cadena came in to pinch hit and sent a long fly ball to right but Robison made a beautiful over the shoulder grab to preserve the shutout.
The Penguins and Golden Eagles will be back at it Sunday for a doubleheader beginning at noon at Penguin Field.
