TURLOCK, Calif. – Dominican softball rebounded to start its second day at the Tournament of Champions as it topped Cal Poly Humboldt 2-0 Saturday afternoon at Pedretti Sports Complex.
 
Nayellys Torres-Gonzalez and Kassidy Stetler combined for the shutout allowing five hits as Torres-Gonazlez moved to 2-1 on the season and Stetler collected her second save for the Penguins (6-3). Annabelle Burke had a hand in all the scoring plays for Dominican as she went 1-for-2 with an RBI and a run scored. Hailey Meisenbach put the Jacks (8-3) the closes they would be to a score as she doubled in her lone hit of the game going 1-for-3 on the day.
 
Melissa Garcia continued to be one of the best lead-off hitters nationally as she singled up the middle to put a runner on for the Penguins in the top of the first. Burke and Taylor Rodriguez drew walks to load the bases and Humboldt was able to force out Garcia at home on a ground ball to second for the second out of the inning. Just when it looked like the Jacks would exit the inning unscathed a passed ball allowed Burke to come home with Eby drawing a walk to reload the bases on the next pitch. Rayna Ponce finally worked out of trouble as she struck out the final batter swinging with the Penguins leading 1-0.
 
The pitchers took control over the next several frames as no runners advanced past first base. Alyssa Rue singled to right field to lead off the top of the fourth and Eby singled to center two pitches later. Dominican then successfully executed a double steal to put both runners in scoring position with no outs. Ponce retired the next three batters in order as no ball left the infield to keep Humboldt within a run.
 
The Jacks first scoring opportunity came in the bottom of the fourth as Alyssa Smokey walked and Alyssa Ramirez singled up the middle to advance her to second with two outs but Garcia tracked down a fly ball in center field to help out her freshman pitcher and end the inning. Garcia then sparked the offense in the top of the fifth as she singled through the right side. After a sacrifice bunt moved her to second, Kate Tobola entered as a pinch runner and Burke singled through the left side to bring the runner home and advanced to second as the left fielder misplayed the ball. Vanessa Saltos made a beautiful grab for the Jacks on a line drive back to second and caught Burke off the bag at second to end the inning.
 
Katlyn Gifford walked and Meisenbach doubled down the left-field line to put runners at second and third with no outs. Stetler entered and kept the ball in the infield over the next two batters to keep the runners put and get to two outs. Garcia then secured a line drive in center field to leave them stranded and the Penguins leading 2-0 heading to the final two innings. The Jacks only managed one hit on Stetler as Lauren Asia singled to left to lead off the bottom of the seventh, but Stetler sat down the top of the lineup in order to end the game.
 
Dominican will return to the diamond at 6 p.m. PST as it takes on Cal State Monterey Bay on field one at Pedretti Sports Complex.