TURLOCK, Calif. – Dominican softball made it a perfect day as it took down Cal State Monterey Bay 3-1 Saturday night at Pedretti Sports Complex.
Taylor Rodriguez (3-0) earned the victory in the circle allowing one earned run in five innings of work with
Hannah Escalante earning her first save pitching two shutout innings.
Morgan Heggstrom brought the offense for the Penguins (7-3) going 1-for-2 with two RBI, a double and a run scored to account for every run for her team. Kaitlyn Le pitched five innings in relief for the Otters (6-3) and not allowing an earned run, but it would not be enough as Dominican held the CSUMB offense in check.
Rodriguez needed only six pitches to retire the side in the top of first and the Penguins offense headed to the plate looking for another quick start.
Tiare Guerrero singled to left to put the first runner of the day on base and Rodriguez reached on a fielder's choice as Guerrero beat the shortstop to second base, but a groundout helped the Otters get out of the inning unscathed.
Rodriguez had a pair of strikeouts for another clean frame in the top of the second and
Alyssa Rue singled to shallow center to leadoff the bottom of the inning, advancing to third on an error.
Taylor Eby singled to shortstop as Rue drew attention at third. Eby stole second with Heggstrom at the plate and she doubled to bring both runners home.
Aneesa Brewer laid down a sacrifice bunt to move her to third with only one out. Le was able to sccop up a groundball back to the circle for the second out but Guerrero drew a walk and then drew a throw and a pickle on a designed play on the base paths allowing Heggstrom to come home for the 3-0 lead.
Ally Alcayaga singled through the left side for the first hit of the day for CSUMB but Rodriguez caught the next batter looking before her defense took care of the next two batters to leave the third unscathed. With Le in the game it became a pitchers duel as neither team could get a runner past first until the fifth.
Anastacia Alba singled to right to lead off the fifth and a fielding error allowed her to advance to second. Jackie Perales singled through the left side and advanced to second as the Penguins threw home to stop the runner. After Rodriguez jammed Alcayaga for the first out, a wild pitch allowed both runners to advance. That would be all as a groundout to third and a flyout to right ended the frame with Dominican leading 3-1.
Annabelle Burke doubled to right center with two outs as the Penguins looked to regain their three-run lead but Le got out of the inning with a groundout to third. Escalante entered in the top of the sixth and quickly retired the first two batters. Abreanna Alba managed a two-out single, but Escalante got the next batter swinging to maintain the lead. Escalante then sat down the side in the top of the seventh, striking out Alcayaga swinging for the final out of the game.
Dominican will conclude its play at the Tournament of Champions on Sunday with a doubleheader beginning at noon with a game against Chico State before a quick turnaround to face Cal State San Bernardino immediately afterwards.
