SAN RAFAEL, Calif. – The storm broke and so did the dam holding back the Dominican softball offense as it made a stunning comeback to sweep a Sunday doubleheader with Azusa Pacific 10-5 and 8-3 at Penguin Field.
Kate Tobola led the Penguins (19-19, 12-10 PacWest) from the plate going 4-for-5 with three RBI, three runs scored and a stolen base.
Taylor Rodriguez added a 4-for-7 day from the plate with a double and three RBI while recording a save pitching 2.2 scoreless innings in relief with two strikeouts of game two.
Hannah Escalante earned the victory in the first game pitching two scoreless innings in relief in the first game moving to 2-2 on the season, while
Nayellys Torres-Gonzalez allowed three runs in 4.1 innings in the second game and striking out three to move to 4-7 with the victory in game two.
The game started as light rain fell off and on through the first five innings. The offenses were both kept mostly in check until Celeste Camarena singled down the left-field line to bring home the first run of the game for the Cougars (21-23, 14-14 PacWest) in the fifth. Bella Fraser singled in the sixth to score another and Camarena homered down the left-field line to extend the APU lead to 5-0 as it looked to have the game firmly in hand.
As the clouds parted Dominican found its stride as a fielding error and a pair of walks loaded the bases with no outs in the bottom of the sixth.
Kelissa Lee singled through the left side to score one and the flood gates began to open.
Marina Medina came in to pinch hit and singled up the middle to bring home another run. Tobola singled and two more runners crossed the plate with Tobola advancing to second on the throw home. After a walk loaded the bases again,
Jadyn Magnuson and Rodriguez each singled to keep the hit parade moving along with two more runs coming across for the 6-5 lead.
Aneesa Brewer doubled to deep center to extend the lead to three before the Cougars recorded their first out of the inning on the 10th batter they faced.
Morgan Heggstrom drove in a run on a sacrifice fly and
Kelissa Lee singled through the left side to cap the 10-run inning and flipping the five run lead in Dominican's favor heading to the seventh. Escalante needed only seven pitches to record three outs in the seventh to seal the victory.
Torres-Gonzales started strong in game two and Dominican continued to ride the momentum. Heggstrom singled before the Cougars tried twice to get lead runners and failed to allow Dominican to load the bases with no outs. Tobola singled through the right side to bring home the first two runs of the game before stealing second. Rodriguez drove home two of her own with a single to center to push the lead to 4-0.
Dominican sacrificed a scoring opportunity in the fourth with the light fading and trying to get to the mark needed for an official game quickly. The move nearly backfired as Reagan Kunkle homered to left to bring home one and Julia Doan knocked a 2-run shot out of right center to cut the Cougar deficit to 4-3 with one out in the fifth. Rodriguez entered in relief and struck the next batter out with Lee snagging a line drive in center to end the frame and Dominican reached the mark it needed for the official game.
With no more pressure to beat the light,
Karlyne Manuel homered to left, the first of her career, to extend the lead and Tobola walked. Tobola advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt and a wild pitch when Burke laid down a perfect bunt on a designed play as third base looked back Tobola who went as soon as the throw went to first with Burke reaching safely and Tobola sliding under the tag at home to bring home another run. Rodriguez doubled and Saucedo singled to left to bring both runners home for the 8-3 lead. Rodriguez did not allow a hit over the final two innings to close out the game from the circle.
Dominican will be right back at it tomorrow as it begins a new series with Biola with the first doubleheader Monday at noon PDT at Penguin Field.
