HONOLULU – Taylor Rodriguez powered a Dominican softball comeback to secure a doubleheader sweep over Hawai'i Pacific on Tuesday winning the first 11-10 in eight innings before a 4-0 win in game two at Sand Island Park.
 
Rodriguez went 3-for-3 with a double, a triple, a home run and five RBI at the plate while also earning the victory from the circle. Kassidy Stetler was also crucial to the day one sweep striking out two to earn a save in game one for the Penguins (10-8, 5-5 PacWest) before pitching a complete-game shutout with four strikeouts in game two.
 
Game one
Anything that could go wrong, did go wrong for Dominican to start the game as the wind played havoc with any ball in the air. The Sharks (3-13, 0-6 PacWest) took advantage of its familiarity with the conditions as they quickly loaded the bases in the first. Danielle Cote then singled to right center to bring home a pair of runs and put runners at the corners. After a foul out behind the plate an errant throw brought in another run for the 3-0 lead.
 
After a walk put Alexis Oshiro on the base paths in the bottom of the second, it appeared Dominican would clear the base paths with a strike out followed by a caught stealing but the ball squirted free as the tag was made at second. Neva Poulin then singled to center to bring her home for the 4-0 lead.
 
Dominican finally got a run back in the top of the fourth as Olivia Lee and Alicia Garcia singled while Caitlyn Perales and Kama Kaleikini drew walks to make it 4-1. The Sharks though quickly responded adding five runs in the bottom of the inning to go up 9-1 heading to the fifth.
 
Just as it looked like the game would end early, Rodriguez doubled to left center before Tiare Guerrero singled to left field to put runners on the corners. Lee then doubled down the right field line to bring home one. Alyssa Rue entered as a pinch hitter and promptly tripled to deep left field to score two more and cut the deficit to five.
 
The teams traded runs over the next two frames bringing the Penguins to the plate with one last chance to tie down five in the seventh. Melissa Garcia was hit by a pitch to open the frame and Kaleikini and Taylor Eby drew walks to load the bases for Rodriguez. Rodriguez turned on the second pitch she saw sending it off the top of the fence in centerfield for her first career home run and grand slam as well as becoming only the third player to homer at the new Sand Island field.
 
Despite the massive hit, Dominican was still trailing by one with one out in the top of the seventh. Guerrero drew a walk to chase Taylor Thompson from the game as HPU turned the ball over to Gianna Kerschbaum to try and close out the save. Lee drew a four pitch walk and a wild pitch moved both runners into scoring position. Rue then hit a ball off the dirt in front of home plate and it died in between the catcher and pitcher allowing her to reach first safely and load the bases.  Alicia Garcia drew a walk to tie the game 10-10 but that was where it ended as Jewel Larson was able to snag a line drive and throw to third for an inning ending double play.
 
The Sharks had a pair of singles to put runners on the corners with two outs but Rodriguez was not going to let the game slip away after tying it catching the next batter swinging to send the game to extra innings. Perales singled to short and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt and then to third on a groundout. Rodriguez once again came to the plate and once again she delivered, this time as she tripled to right center to bring home Perales for the 11-10 lead.
 
Stetler entered the game with a runner on first and got the first batter she faced swinging before Kerschbaum doubled to center but the ball hung in the air to keep the runner close to first and preventing her from scoring. With two runners in scoring position, Stetler needed only three pitches to strike out the next batter swinging and Guerrero tracked a popup as it moved towards second base to secure the amazing come from behind victory.
 
Game two
Dominican continued to ride its wave of momentum as Guerrero walked and stole second before stealing third. Rue struck out swinging but a ball in the dirt allowed her to reach first as no one was covering the base. Rue then drew a throw to second allowing Guerrero to steal home for the 1-0 lead. Rodriguez then laced a ball to the outfield but the centerfielder dropped the line drive allowing Rue to score advancing to second on the error. Melissa Garcia singled to center field to bring home one more run for the 3-0 lead.
 
Rue was hit by a pitch and Rodriguez walked to put a pair on in the top of the third moving with both advancing on a sacrifice bunt. A groundout to second allowed Rue to score for the 4-0 lead. HPU loaded the bases in the bottom of the frame before Stetler got a batter to hit an infield fly followed by working out of a 3-0 hole to get a popout for the final out of the inning and preserve her shutout.
 
Stetler retired the side in the fourth and the fifth before working out of a jam in the sixth to leave a pair stranded. It was the last gasp for the Sharks as Stetler locked in for the seventh needing 11 pitches to retire the side and give Dominican its second win of the afternoon.
 
Dominican will return to the diamond Wednesday to finish the series with HPU as it travels to Kaneohe, Hawai'i, for a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m. HST at Howard A. Okita Field.