IRVINE, Calif. – The greatest Dominican softball team by most metrics enjoyed one last game together as it fell 5-0 Thursday against Azusa Pacific at the PacWest Championships at Golden Eagle Field.
 
Seniors Taylor Eby, Caitlyn Perales and Alyssa Rue all enjoyed one last hit from the plate for the Penguins (32-23) while Kassidy Stetler allowed one earned run in 3.1 innings of relief to cap off her collegiate career. The Cougars (30-21) were led by Hannah Tipton's pinch hit 3-run home run and a combined shutout behind pitchers Maddy Debs (6-5) and Mia Castillo.
 
Summer Quinones led off the game with a bloop single into left field eventually advancing as a wild pitch on a swinging strike three for the second out allowed her to move into scoring position. Sierra Sandoval singled on another soft line drive into left and Quinones beat the throw to the plate to take the 1-0 lead. Tiare Guerrero walked to lead off the game and advanced to second on a sacrifice as Dominican looked to even the score, but a pair of fly outs left her stranded.
 
Dominican's best chance at a run came in the bottom of the second as Taylor Rodriguez walked and Eby singled through the left side to put the first two batters on the base paths. After Debs struck out the next two batters, Alexis Abalos was able to poke a ball through the hole on the left side, but pinch runner Karlyne Manuel had to hold at third as Julia Doan was playing in and quickly fielded and threw home. Debs was able to get another fly out to get out of the jam and preserve the lead.
 
After a pair of singles, Tipton entered as a pinch hitter and was able to foul off multiple pitches before sending a ball over the fence in left field to push the lead to 4-0. Rodriguez and senior Alicia Garcia each drew walks in the bottom of the frame to put another runner in scoring position with one out but Debs continued to come through for her team retiring the next two batters.
 
After APU added an insurance run in the sixth, head coach Juliana Santos inserted her seniors so they could enjoy one last moment on the field together after helping the team go from 17-19 four years ago to a program record 32 wins as seniors. After the first two outs in the top of the seventh, Santos called a timeout and congratulated and hugged each of her players who had given so much this season with Rue and Perales adding a pair of singles in the seventh to give them a fantastic farewell.