HONOLULU – Dominican softball took two from Hawai'i Pacific on the first day of the series winning 6-2 in the first game before a 5-3 win in 10 innings to end the day at Sand Island Park.
 
Tiare Guerrero finished the day 5-for-10 from the plate for the Penguins (9-13, 4-6 PacWest) with two RBI, while Kate Tobola added a 4-for-9 performance with a triple and three RBI. Nayellys Torres-Gonzalez (2-4) got the win in the first game holding the Sharks (4-12, 2-6 PacWest) to two runs in 5.1 innings of work. Alexis Verduzco (3-2) earned the victory in game two after pitching six innings without allowing an earned run and striking out five.
 
Game one
Leila Benson singled on a perfect drag bunt for the game's first hit and Taylor Rodriguez drew a 2-out walk to put a pair on for Annabelle Burke. Burke singled on a looping ball into right field that got away from the outfielder and made its way to the fence bringing home all three runners for the 3-0 lead.
 
Benson sparked the Penguins again in the top of the third as she singled up the middle and Tobola tripled to the deepest part of center field one batter later to bring her home for the 4-0 lead. Torres-Gonzalez remained in charge from the circle not allowing a runner in scoring position untnil the bottom of the fourth as a single and a walk put Makayla Pagampao at second and she made it to third on a groundout, but Tobola scooped up a grounder to third and threw to first for the final out of the inning.
 
Morgan Saucedo singled to left on a pinch hit in the top of the sixth and Leslie Ruiz singled to the grass right behind the shortstop with one out to put a pair on. One pitch later, Guerrero slapped a ball past the third baseman down the left-field line to load the bases. A fielder's choice gave HPU the second out of the inning as it looked to escape without the lead growing, but Tobola had other plans as she singled off the shin of the pitcher to bring home the fifth run of the game for Dominican.
 
HPU finally got to Torres-Gonzalez as Taryn Hirano tripled to left in the bottom of the sixth and Pagampao singled to center to bring her home with one out. Hannah Escalante entered in relief with runners on first and second and snagged a line drive back to the circle for the second out of the inning. After Brianna Rodela loaded the bases on a single, Naomi Cummings singled to shallow left to bring home another run cutting the Sharks' deficit to 5-2, but Guerrero chased down a fly ball in foul territory to end the inning.
 
Burke singled to right on the first pitch of the top of the seventh and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt. She scored as the second baseman attempted to double her off on a line drive but the throw was late and off target escaping into left field and allowing Burke to run home for the 6-2 lead. Mia Souza entered in the bottom of the seventh and sat the side down in order to close out the victory.
 
Game two
Guerrero singled to left and stole second to lead off the second game. Benson laid down a sacrifice to move her to third and Tobola added a squeeze bunt in the next at bat to bring her home for the 1-0 lead. Pagampao doubled with one out in the bottom of the second and moved to third on a single before Miquela Leopoldo flied out to left to bring her home for the 1-1 tie.
 
After a clean second inning, Kaitlyn Aguilar singled in a pinch hit opportunity and Karlyne Manuel entered as a pinch runner. Burke singled to right center to put runners on the corners and subsequently stole second to put a pair of runners in scoring position. Trinity Williams escaped the jam as she retired the next two batters she faced to keep the game tied.
 
The Penguins offense continued to chip away as Kelissa Lee singled through the left side and Saucedo singled to shallow right to lead off the top of the fourth. Jadyn Magnuson laid down a perfect bunt up the first base line and the throw was offline allowing all runners to advance with Lee coming home for the lead. Guerrero flied out to right to bring home Saucedo from third and push Dominican ahead 3-1.
 
HPU got a little luck on its side in the bottom of the fifth as Saunette Oshiro struck out swinging but a wild pitch allowed her to reach first safely. A walk put a pair on and Verduzco entered the circle in relief. Verduzco got the first batter looking and the next to flyout but Dannielle Cote singled into shallow right field to narrow the gap to 3-2 in the Penguins favor. Leopoldo doubled to left to bring home another run and tie the game 3-3. A groundout to second finally brought an end to the inning with the game tied.
 
Benson walked and Tobola singled on a bunt to put a pair on with no outs in the top of the seventh for Dominican. Burke sacrificed them both into scoring position, but Angelica Oseguera got a groundout and a strikeout to keep the game tied. Taryn Hirano singled to left and stole second to put the game-winning run in scoring position with no outs in the bottom of the frame. Verduzco kept the ball in the infield on a popup to first and third to get a pair of outs before intentionally walking Leopoldo. Verduzco got the pinch hitter swinging to leave both runners stranded and send the game to extras.
 
Alexis Abalos singled on a slap between first and second beating the defenders to the bag to put a runner on in the top of the eighth. Magnusson walked and Guerrero slapped a ball off the tip of the third baseman's glove allowing everyone to advance safely with one out. Unfortunately, Dominican could not get a runner home and the game moved deeper into extras.
 
With a tiebreaker in effect in the 10th, Dominican sacrificed the runner over and she scored as Alexis Abalos hit a ball into the right side gap off the glove of second. Abalos was caught stealing, but Magnuson doubled with two outs to get a runner back in scoring position. Guerrero singled off the glove of the pitcher and it trickled past the shortstop on the deflection and into left field allowing Magnuson time to come home for the 5-3 lead. The Sharks were able to get runners at second and third with one out in the bottom of the frame, but Verduzco got the next batter looking before a groundout to third ended the game.
 
The Penguins will face HPU for its last doubleheader of the series Monday at Sand Island Park with first pitch at noon Hawaiian Time.