TURLOCK, Calif. – Dominican softball split its final day of the Tournament of Champions topping Chico State 2-0 before falling to Cal State San Bernardino 4-2 Sunday afternoon at Pedretti Sports Complex.
Melissa Garcia went 4-for-7 with an RBI with
Annabelle Burke going 3-for-7 with two RBI as the duo led the offensive output for the Penguins (8-6).
Nayellys Torres-Gonzalez and
Kassidy Stetler each pitched seven innings for Dominican, combining for a shutout in the first game.
Game One
Burke singled to right in the top of the first as she tried to rally the Penguins on a 2-out rally.
Taylor Rodriguez followed with another single into shallow right to put a pair on, but a fielder's choice on the next at bat caught her at second to end the frame. After a long first at bat ended in a fielding error to put the lead off runner on base for the Wildcats, Stetler settled in catching the next batter swinging with two more quick outs to follow to end the inning.
Dominican threatened again in the top of the third as
Melissa Garcia singled up the middle and then beat out a throw to second on a sacrifice bunt that allowed
Tiare Guerrero to reach safely with one out in the inning. Once again Amelie Valdez escaped as she struck out the next batter and a groundball to third base allowed Itzell de los Rios to step on her bag and maintain the scoreless tie. Chico State put its first runner in scoring position in the bottom of the frame as Kennedy Gustin singled on a well-placed bunt but a fielder's choice caught her at second. Mia Santos assumed her position at first base and promptly stole second but a popout to short kept the shutout going for Stetler.
After several quiet frames and a pitching change for the Penguins, the Wildcats finally had another chance at the game's first run as Gustin singled down the left-field line and advanced to second on a wild pitch with no outs. Torres-Gonzalez made quick work of the next three batters with some help of her defense needing only seven pitches to leave Gustin stranded at second base.
Alicia Garcia entered to pinch hit for Dominican in the top of the seventh and singled to left to put a runner on. After a popout,
Melissa Garcia once again provided a key hit as she singled to right to push the runner to third with one out. Valdez got the next batter swinging, but Burke once again proved to have ice in her veins as she stepped to the plate and laced an 0-1 pitch into left field to bring both runners home for the 2-0 lead. Torres-Gonzalez had all the run-support she needed as she set down the side in order to earn the win.
Game Two
Torres-Gonzalez got the start for the Penguins in the second game and left a runner stranded in the top of the first but a lead off walk put a runner on in the top of the second and a sacrifice bunt and single moved her to third. Sarah Moite brought the runner in on a sacrifice fly to give the Coyotes the 1-0 lead, but it would grow no further as Torres-Gonzalez left a pair stranded.
Marina Medina singled through the left side to lead off the bottom of the frame and
Kate Tobola entered as a pinch runner.
Alyssa Rue laid down a good bunt and the throw to second was too late as Tobola slid in safely with an errant throw allowing her to take third while Rue reached safely on the fielder's choice.
Taylor Eby doubled down the left-field line to bring home the tying run with two runners in scoring position.
Alicia Garcia drew a walk to load the bases with one out but Tereise Tosi was able to snag a line drive back to first and step on her bag to end the inning for CSUSB with the game tied.
Brooke Brazill singled on an infield hit and then used her speed to advance on a fly ball to center for the Coyotes in the top of the third. Torres-Gonzalez struck out the next batter swinging before Lindsey Marschall singled to left to bring the speedy Brazill home for the 2-1 lead. Dominican put runners in scoring position with one out in the bottom of the third and fourth, but CSUSB escaped with the lead in both occasions.
Stetler kept the deficit at one as as she retired nine batters straight and Eby singled to center to put the tying run on for the Penguins in the bottom of the sixth. Morgan Hegstrom singled to left field to put a pair on and force the Coyotes to make a change in the circle. After
Kelissa Lee walked to load the bases with two outs,
Melissa Garcia was hit by a pitch to bring in a run and tie the game 2-2.
Unfortunately an error prolonged the top of the seventh and Brazill had a sacrifice fly to bring in an unearned run for CSUSB in the top of the seventh to retake the lead. Tosi followed up with a single to shallow center to bring in one more for the 4-2 lead. The Penguins were unable to mount a comeback in the bottom of the frame finishing 3-2 at the Tournament of Champions.
Dominican will have a quick turnaround as it takes on Sonoma State in a doubleheader Tuesday at Seawolf Softball field with the first pitch set for noon PST.
