HILO, Hawaii – Dominican softball opened its trip to the islands with a 5-2 victory over University of Hawai'i at Hilo at Vulcan Field.
 
Melissa Garcia led the way with a 2-for-3 performance from the plate with two runs scored and a stolen base. Shelby Keltner earned the victory for the Penguins (6-7, 1-4 PacWest) pitching four innings and striking out four while collecting a hit and two RBI from the plate. Jayda Favela led the Vulcans (7-2, 2-1 PacWest) with a 3-for-4 day at the plate.
 
Tiare Guerrero led off the game reaching base on an error as shortstop and left field ran into each other on a short fly ball. Guerrero kept her head up and took advantage of the drop advancing to second base before taking third on a sacrifice bunt. She then made another heads up play on the base paths as a grounder back the pitcher she faked being held at third before racing to the plate and sliding around the tag for the 1-0 lead. 
 
Garcia singled to shallow right to start a two-out rally for the Penguins and stole second to move into scoring position. Mariah Hopkins stepped to the plate and battled to stay alive after falling behind in the count. Her work paid off as she laced the sixth pitch she saw over everyone and off the top of the fence in center to bring home Garcia for the 2-0 lead.
 
Shelby Keltner caught the next two batters she faced swinging as she quickly retired the side to preserve the lead. She then worked her way out of a bases-loaded jam getting an infield fly before Guerrero made a beautiful, backhanded grab on a grounder into the hole at short and threw to first to end the inning.
 
Caitlyn Perales doubled to right center to lead off the top of the fourth while Garcia singled as a bunt popped up slightly down the third-base line and the third baseman attempted to grab it on a diving play but missed it allowing her to reach safely on the single and send Perales to third. Mariah Hopkins walked to load the bases and Keltner helped herself as she singled to center to bring home a pair of runs to double the lead. Hopkins and Kelissa Lee then successfully executed a double steal with Hopkins drawing the throw at second allowing Lee to score from third for the 5-0 lead. 
 
The Vulcans scored runs in the bottom of the fourth and fifth innings to get back within three but Taylor Rodriguez closed things out allowing two base runners in the final two innings and no runs to earn the save. 
 
The teams played through the top of the fifth of their second game of the day before the skies opened and the rain halted play with Dominican leading 2-1. The teams will resume play Saturday beginning at 11 a.m. HST to finish the game before turning around to play two more.