SAN RAFAEL, Calif. – Dominican softball split with Vanguard for the second straight day dropping the first 4-1 before winning the second 2-0 Saturday afternoon at Penguin Field.
 
Taylor Eby went 2-for-6 with a stolen base and a run scored with several nice plays at third base for the Penguins (10-8, 2-2 PacWest). Alyssa Rue topped off a great offensive series by going 4-for-6 with a double and an RBI while Taylor Rodriguez moved to 5-0 on the season with a complete game shutout in the second game.
 
Game One
Neither offense could get much going in the opening innings of the Saturday's first game as Hannah Escalante grabbed a hot shot right back at her in the circle to turn a double play in the top of the second to keep the scoresheet clean. The Penguins tallied a single hit for the first four innings but were unable to capitalize on any of the hits as Brianna Williams kept a clean sheet for much of the game for the Lions (6-10, 2-2 PacWest).
 
Kamryn Walker singled up the middle and Vanguard loaded the bases on a walk and hit by pitch to put some pressure on the Dominican defense. Kassidy Stetler got one batter looking, but Lilyana Roth singled on a bloop just in front of a diving Kate Tobola to plate the games first run. Aeri Corral hit a high fly ball to left field to plate another run and double the lead. The Lions would add some insurance runs in each of the next two frames to take a 4-0 lead.
 
After Tobola reached on a fielding error, Rue doubled on a line drive into the left-center gap to bring her home from first to cut the deficit to 4-1, but the rally went no further as Williams induced a popup on the next at bat.
 
Game Two
Rodriguez had a similar start to the second game on Friday as she sat down the first 10 batters of the game to give the Dominican offense some time to come alive. Eby started the party as she singled up the middle on the first pitch of the bottom of the second and then stole second. Alicia Garcia singled up the middle to bring her home while advancing to second on a throw to the plate. Tiare Guerrero kept the momentum rolling singling up the middle to bring home Garcia and taking second on the throw. The Lions quickly made a pitching change and Mari Ipatzi was able to retire the next two batters to get out of the jam.
 
Mia Hernandez had the first hit of the second game against Rodriguez in the bottom of the fourth as she singled up the middle, but with some help in the outfield Dominican was able to leave a pair of runners stranded to maintain its lead.
 
Tobola and Rue singled with one out in the bottom of the fifth as the Penguins looked to add to their lead, but Adrianna Natividad was able to handle a high hop at second to turn an inning-ending double play for Vanguard. It made no difference to Rodriguez who quietly handled her business in the circle and retired the final six batters for the Lions in order on 11 pitches to secure the shutout.
 
Dominican will finish off its homestand Friday as it hosts Academy of Art in a doubleheader beginning at noon PST at Penguin Field.