KANEOHE, Hawai'i – Dominican softball completed its first-ever series sweep over Hawai'i Pacific winning 3-0 and 3-1 Friday afternoon at Howard A. Okita Field.
Shelby Keltner won the first game from the circle with a complete game shutout allowing three hits and striking out four to move to 5-5 on the season.
Taylor Rodriguez performed well in all facets of the game yet again for the Penguins (12-8, 7-5 PacWest) winning in the circle in game two while going 2-for-6 with two RBI from the plate.
Alyssa Rue added a 4-for-8 performance from the plate with two RBI and a home run.
Game one
Dominican got off to a strong start with three straight singles, but were unable to do anything with it as a caught stealing recorded the first out before Taylor Thompson struck out one looking and induced a flyout to end the threat. After an initial walk, Keltner sat down the next three batters including a strikeout to keep the game scoreless.
The Sharks best chance came in the bottom of the third as Alexis Oshiro singled on a bunt and Tiari Hernandez singled to left center to put a pair on with one out.
Olivia Lee then tracked a fly ball well to make a catch on the right-field line and Keltner fielded a grounder back to the circle for the final out of the inning.
Tiare Guerrero singled off the tip of the glove of the shortstop and into left field to get the Penguin offense started in the top of the fifth. Lee drew a walk and Rue put down a perfect bunt to load the bases. Rodriguez came to the plate with two outs and came through in the clutch yet again for her team as she deposited a ball into shallow center to score two and break the stalemante.
Keltner held the HPU offense in check over the next two innings and Rue homered down the left-field line with two outs in the top of the seventh to add an insurance run. Danielle Cote singled on a bunt that
Mariah Hopkins could not collect on a dive. Her teammates picked up for her as Lee made a diving catch in right center and a high throw back to first caused some confusion as the runner went but
Hayley Gano fielded it cleanly and threw down to Guerrero at second base for the tag to clear the bases. Keltner got the final batter to popout to first base to end the game.
Game two
Dominican worked some two-out magic in the first inning of game two as Rodriguez singled to right center and advanced to second on a wild pitch.
Mariah Hopkins then doubled off the wall to bring her home for the 1-0 lead. The Sharks loaded the bases with one out as they looked for the tie in the bottom of the frame but Rodriguez cleanly fielded a ball back to the circle and started the double play throwing to home who relayed to first to end the inning and the threat.
Hernandez singled to lead off the bottom of the third and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. Jewell Larson singled up the middle and the throw home was off line allowing Hernandez to slide in safely for the 1-1 tie. Rodriguez retired the next two batters to leave Larson stranded at second.
Kaleikini singled to shallow left to put a runner on in the fifth.
Taylor Eby moved the runner with a sacrifice bunt bringing up Guerrero. Guerrero slapped a ball into the hole on the right side and the ball scooted off the glove of the second baseman allowing pinch runner
Alexis Abalos to come home from second for the 2-1 lead. Rodriguez sat down two batters on strikeouts in the bottom of the frame and retired the side again in the bottom of the sixth.
Eby singled up the middle in the top of the seventh and Guerrero singled through the left side to put runners on first and second with two outs. Rue singled through the left on the second pitch she saw to push the lead to 3-1. Rodriguez made it four straight clean innings to end the game and move to 5-2 on the season.
Dominican will return to the diamond Friday as it begins it series against Chaminade in doubleheader beginning at noon HST at Silversword Field at Sand Island Park.
