IRVINE, Calif. – Dominican softball opened the 2025 season with a 5-2 loss Friday morning to Cal State Dominiguez Hills at the Great Park.
Melissa Garcia went a perfect 4-for-4 from the plate for the Penguins (0-1) in the first game, while
Nayellys Torres-Gonzalez allowed two runs and struck out five in five innings from the circle in relief. Torie Au led the Toros (1-0) with a 3-for-4 day from the plate with a double, two runs and an RBI. Lillianna Garcia earned the win pitching six frames without allowing a run.
Dominican used small ball early to generate its offense as
Melissa Garcia led off with a single to third base before beating out a through to second as
Tiare Guerrero took first with no outs. An error on the ensuing at bat loaded the bases for
Morgan Saucedo who sent a slow grounder to second to allow Garcia to come home and then perfectly executed a play on the bases drawing a throw down to second to allow Guerrero to come home for the 2-0 lead.
CSUDH responded in the top of the second as Dyoni Garcia and Torie Au each singled with Kaylee Hull sent a ball over the center-field wall to take the 3-2 lead.
Kassidy Stetler settled back in and retired three of the next four batters to escape the inning without further damage. The game then became a pitching battle as both teams made changes in the circle with Lillianna Garcia entering for the Toros and
Nayellys Torres-Gonzalez seeing her first collegiate action for the Penguins.
CSUDH put a pair of runners on in the top of the third with two outs but Torres-Gonzalez got Hull swinging to end the frame. Garcia led off the bottom of the third with a single up the middle and a Saucedo walk put a pair of runners on the base paths with two outs. After a successful double steal, Au snagged a sharply hit ball back to second for the final out of the inning.
After an uneventful fourth inning, Mireya Rico singled to center and Alani Nguyen drew a walk to put a pair on with one out in the top of the fifth. Au battled back after falling behind in the count before doubling to center to bring in a run for the 4-2 lead. Hull walked to load the bases and Guerrero was able to throw out a runner at home on a ground ball for the second out of the inning. Julissa Gomez drew a walk to bring in another run before Alexis Aguado fouled out to first to end the frame with CSUDH leading 5-2.
Garcia continued to have the hot bat as she singled through the right side to lead off the bottom of the fifth. After a fielder's choice,
Marina Medina beat out a throw to first for an infield single to put runners on first and second with one out. A flyout put runners on the corners and Dominican tried once again to sneak a run across by drawing a throw to second but this time the Toros were able to hold the runner long enough and catch the runner stealing at second to end the inning.
Torres-Gonzalez quickly retired the side in the top of the sixth, but Lillianna Garcia returned the favor in the bottom of the frame. Garcia singled up the middle for her fourth hit of the day, but once again was left stranded as the Toros held on for the victory.
The Penguins return to the diamond this afternoon to take on Fort Lewis at 1 p.m. on Field 4 of the Great Park.
