TURLOCK, Calif. – Dominican softball had a long wait as the rain postponed its first game ultimately falling to Saint Martins 6-5 Friday evening at Pedretti Sports Complex.
Melissa Garcia led the Penguins (5-3) from the plate going 2-for-4 with a run and two RBI, while
Taylor Eby chipped in a 3-for-4 day from the plate of her own. Haley Agena came through in multiple high-pressure situations for the Saints (3-3) going 2-for-4 with three RBI and a double.
Garcia singled through the left side as she reached safely to lead off the game for the for the seventh time this season. She advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt and
Annabelle Burke singled into shallow center to bring her home for the 1-0 lead. The Saints looked for an answer as Ashley Goodale and Shelby Lawson singled in the bottom of the first to put a pair on with one out.
Kassidy Stetler settled in and jammed the next hitter for a popout before striking out the next batter swinging to end the inning.
Eby and
Leslie Ruiz singled through the left side in the top of the second with both advancing into scoring position on a groundout. Garcia stepped to the plate with two outs and delivered a clutch single up the middle to bring both runners home for the 3-0 lead. Stetler retired the side in the bottom of second on nine pitches with a strikeout and some help from her defense as
Alyssa Rue tracking a ball from second as she made the catch down the right-field line.
Saint Martins finally held Dominican scoreless int eh top of the third leaving a runner stranded. Holland Jensen drew a leadoff walk in the bottom of the frame and Goodale singled for the second time to put a pair on with no outs. Lawson drew a walk to load the Agena doubled down the left-field line to plate a pair of runs. Stetler nearly escaped as she snagged a line drive back to the circle for the Penguins' second out of the frame, but Kekai Schulz tripled down the right-field line to plate two more and give the Saints the 4-3 lead heading to the fourth.
Ruiz walked to lead off the frame with
Kate Tobola entering to pinch run. After Tobola stole second,
Tiare Guerrero and Burke also drew walks to load the bases with two outs. SMU made a pitching change but a fielding error in left field allowed
Taylor Rodriguez to reach safely and two runs to score as Dominican retook the 5-4 lead.
Hannah Escalante entered the circle for the Penguins in the bottom of the frame and caught the first two batters she faced looking at strike three before a flyout sat down the side in order.
After a scoreless top of the sixth, Escalante continued to frustrate the Saints catching the leadoff batter swinging and scooping up a groundball and throwing to first to record the last out of her second consecutive clean inning. It was the same story in the bottom of the sixth as Escalante struck out her fourth batter of the game and needed only five more pitches to retire the next two batters to move the game into the seventh.
Trinity Cabana-Rodrigues came in to pinch hit for SMU in the bottom of the seventh and finally broke the hitless streak with a leadoff single down the left-field line. Escalante recorded an out on a groundball back to the circle and then notched her fifth strikeout for out two, but a walk but runners on first and second. Lawson delivered on a single to left field to tie the game for the Saints and Agena singled through the right side to complete the walk-off victory.
Dominican will return to the diamond Saturday to take on Cal Poly Humboldt and Cal State Monterey Bay in a doubleheader beginning at 12:30 p.m. PST at Pedretti Sports Complex.
