HONOLULU – Dominican softball bounced back from its worst day on its Hawaiian road trip to split with Chaminade Saturday losing game one 1-0 before exploding for an 11-6 victory in game two at Silversword Field at Sand Island Park.
Shelby Keltner came back from being sick yesterday and pitched 10 innings on the day striking out eight and earning a victory. Keltner also went 3-for-4 with a double and two RBI for the Penguins (13-11, 8-8 PacWest). Seven players for Dominican had multiple hits in the second game with Kama Kaleikini going 2-for-4 with three RBI and
Annabelle Burke going 3-for-4 with two runs and an RBI.
The first game was a pitching duel as Keltner went the whole way for the Penguins while the Silverswords (8-6, 5-1 PacWest) split time between Ashley Ogata and Kamryn Lopez. Keltner left the explosive Chaminade offense flustered as she never allowed more than a single base runner in an inning. The difference in the game came in the bottom of the sixth as Desiree Bravo laced a ball down the right-field line that the wind helped push into the corner allowing her to circle the bases for an inside the park home run.
Dominican shook off the loss and exploded as
Tiare Guerrero singled to third to start the game and moved into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt and a long fly ball to right.
Taylor Rodriguez then started a two-out rally as she singled to right to bring home Guerrero. Dominican was not nearly finished there.
Burke singled to center and
Kate Tobola walked to load the bases. Kaleikini singled to left center to bring home two and Keltner doubled to right center to bring home one more for the 4-0 lead.
Caitlyn Perales outraced a throw from short to first to bring home Kaleikini on an infield single. Perales then stole second and the throw squirted free from the glove of the second baseman to bring home Keltner and make it 6-0.
Dominican continued rolling in the second as
Alyssa Rue walked and Burke singled up the middle to put runners on first and second with two outs.
Kate Tobola followed up with a single up the middle as well to bring home another for the 7-0 lead.
The Silverswords were able to score three in the bottom of the third but Rue led off the top of the fourth with a double as Dominican answered. Rodriguez singled through the left side followed by Burke who also singled through the hole in the left side to bring home Rue. Tobola then dropped a perfect bunt down the third-base line to load the bases. Kaleikini once again delivered in the prime situation with a single through the left side to score one. Keltner walked to score another and
Kaitlyn Aguilar hit a sacrifice fly to right to make it 11-3.
Chaminade was able to score three more in the bottom of the fourth to avoid being 8-run ruled but Rodriguez entered the circle in the bottom of the fifth and did not allow a single run, working her way out of several jams to earn her third save of the season.
Dominican will return home to host Cal Poly Humboldt in a doubleheader Wednesday beginning at noon PDT at Penguin Field.
