SAN RAFAEL, Calif. – Dominican softball split its final home doubleheader winning 4-2 in game one before dropping a 3-1 game to Azusa Pacific to end the day at Penguin Field.
 
The Penguins three seniors shined on senior day with Olivia Lee leading the way at the plate going 4-for-7 with a double, an RBI and a run scored. Shelby Keltner added a 2-for-3 performance with two doubles and two RBI in the first game to go with a complete game victory to go with six strikeouts on her senior day.
 
Game one
Dominican successfully executed the small ball strategy to get early runs and the lead for Keltner. Olivia Lee led off the bottom of the first with a single to left field. Tiare Guerrero laid a bunt down in front of the plate and looked to have a base hit but a lifted leg on the slide at second left her the lone base runner. Guerrero quickly moved into scoring position as she stole second. Keltner then helped herself with a double off the fence in left center to bring home Guerrero for the 1-0 lead.
 
Keltner struck out two as she retired the side in order in the top of the second. Aneesa Brewer started a two out rally as she ripped a ball down the third base line that was too hard for the defense to handle. Alyssa Rue then drew the walk and Lee singled for the second time of the game this time into shallow center to allow the runner to come home from second for the 2-0 lead.
 
The Cougars threatened for the first time of the day in the third as a pair of singles put runners at first and second with one out. A groundout moved both into scoring position but there they remained as Keltner caught the next batter swinging to end the inning. Guerrero singled on a bunt down the third base line to lead off the bottom of the frame and once again stole second to move into scoring position. Keltner repeated history as she doubled to bring her home for the 3-0 lead.
 
APU finally broke through in the top of the fourth as Caitlyn DeCanio homered to center field to lead off the inning. Bella Fraser and Jaelah Burrell both singled up the middle to put a pair on the base paths. Hayley Gano thew out Fraser as she attempted to steal third as it looked like Dominican might get out of the inning, but Izzy Rivera singled to right to bring a run home and cut the Penguin lead to 3-2.
 
Lee doubled to left center to lead off the bottom of the fifth inning to quickly put a runner into scoring position. Senior Kamaleinani Kaleikini followed up a sacrifice bunt with a sacrifice fly to right field to bring Lee home for the 4-2 lead. That was all the room Keltner needed as she allowed only one more base runner to secure her 11th win of the season.
 
Game two
Mia Alvarez led off with a single up the middle for the Cougars in the second game and stole second. Izzy Rivera doubled to left field to bring her home for the 1-0 lead, but Taylor Rodriguez locked in from there as she retired three of the next four batters to limit the damage. Guerrero continued her fantastic day as she singled to short and stole second for Dominican in the bottom of the first. Guerrero took third on a groundout before a passed ball allowed her to come in and tie the game 1-1.
 
Aly Montesino reached on a fielding error to put one on for APU in the top of the second. Kinsey Erickson singled on a soft roller to the second base bag to put runners on the corners and a throw to second on a steal attempt allowed a run to come home. Alvarez singled through the left side to bring home Erickson for the 3-1 lead.
 
Keltner drew a walk and Brewer singled to center to put a pair on with one out in the bottom of the fourth as the Penguins looked to tie the game but Katie Korstrom was able to retire the next two batters to leave the tying run stranded at second. Kate Tobola drew a walk to lead off the seventh and Mariah Hopkins reached on a fielding error as Dominican brought the winning run to the plate with one out in the seventh, but Korstrom once again worked out of the jam to secure the victory.
 
The Penguins will conclude their regular season Friday, April 26 against Academy of Art as they travel across the Golden Gate for a doubleheader beginning at noon PDT at Mission Blue Field.