TURLOCK, Calif. – Dominican softball fell short in its comeback attempt 8-7 to Stanislaus State in extra innings Sunday afternoon at Warrior Field.
Kamaleinani Kaleikini led the Penguins (17-16) with a 3-for-4 day at the plate with 2 RBI.
Caitlyn Perales added a 2-for-3 performance with an RBI, a stolen base and a walk.
Dominican opened the scoring in the top of the second as
Taylor Rodriguez walked and
Taylor Eby singled to third base to put runners on first and second. Kaleikini then brought home one with a single down the right-field line to take the lead. Perales then reached safely on a throwing error as Eby came home to score for the 2-0 lead. The Warriors got a run back in the bottom of the frame as Karli Dalbianco doubled to center and scored on a bunt single by Katie Thornsberry with two outs.
After Stanislaus State loaded the bases in the bottom of the third, Dalbianco brought home a pair with a single up the middle and a throwing error allowed two more to score as it took the 5-2 lead.
Olivia Lee led off the top of the fifth with a double down the left-field line and
Kate Tobola doubled down the same line in the next at bat to bring her home.
Mariah Hopkins then doubled to center to bring home Tobola and close back within one. Kaleikini came through with the clutch two-out single through the right side to bring in Hopkins and tie the game 5-5.
Mikaela Ferreira doubled to right to lead off the bottom of the fifth for the Warriors and moved to third on a groundout before a sacrifice fly brought her home to retake a 6-5 lead. The Penguins were down to their final out in the top of the seventh when Kaleikini singled down the right-field line to bring back some hope. Haley Gano then reached on an error to move her into scoring position. Perales then singled up the middle to bring home the pinch runner,
Emma Keltner, for the tying run of the game. Dominican left a pair stranded in the bottom of the frame to send the game to extra innings.
Once again Dominican found itself down to its final out with
Tiare Guerrero standing on third and again Dominican took advantage of the situation with Rodriguez reaching safely on an error at second to take the 8-7 lead. The momentum was short lived as in fielding miscues allowed Stanislaus State to tie the game and load the bases with one out. Lauryn Serda then singled through the left side to bring home the winning run.
Dominican will return home to host Cal State East Bay in a doubleheader Friday at Penguin Field.
