ATHERTON, Calif. – Dominican softball split its doubleheader with Menlo winning game 1 5-0 before dropping a 4-3 decision in the second game Thursday at Wunderlich Field.
Morgan Saucedo led the Penguins (22-22, 15-13 PacWest) from the plate going 5-for-8 with a double, a home run and two RBI.
Alexis Verduzco earned the victory from the circle with a complete game shutout with six strikeouts to move to 8-3 on the year.
Verduzco was on point from the first inning as she struck out the first two batters she faced and did not allow a hit through the first two innings.
Alexis Abalos walked and
Kate Tobola reached on an error to put a pair on with one out as Dominican looked to open the scoring in the top of the third.
Tiare Guerrero delivered the clutch hit as she doubled to right center bringing in both runners for the 2-0 lead.
Alina Perez doubled down the line in the bottom of the third with two outs to get the first hit in Verduzco, but two pitches later
Kelissa Lee secured a ball in center to record the final out of the inning. Saucedo then expanded the Penguins lead in the top of the fourth as she homered to center on the first pitch she saw. The Oaks could never quite solve Verduzco as a runner never passed second base in the entire game and
Aneesa Brewer drove in two insurance runs in the top of the seventh on a double to right field.
Dominican picked up where it left off in the second game as Tobola singled down the left-field line with
Karlyne Manuel entering to pinch run in her place. After advancing to second on a groundball, Manuel beat out a throw to third on another grounder to put runners on the corners. Sauced singled on a high hop off the pitcher's glove to bring home Manuel for the 1-0 lead. Menlo put two runners on the base paths for the first time of the day in the bottom of the second, but
Nayellys Torres-Gonzalez followed up a flyout to center with a strikeout to leave the runners stranded. Torres-Gonzalez did the same in the bottom of the third leaving runners stranded at first and second after she got one batter looking and the next swinging to end the frame.
Lee doubled down the left-field line and advanced to third on a wild pitch to lead off the top of the fourth as the Penguins looked to add to the lead. A soft groundball to short gave her enough time to come home for the 2-0 lead, but Menlo was able to limit the damage and leave one runner stranded at third. Abalos was hit by a pitch in the top of the sixth and moved over to second on a ground ball before scoring on a throwing error to push the lead to 3-0.
Menlo finally broke through in the bottom of the sixth as the defense and pitching broke down for the Penguins. Sierra Pasco singled and Alina Perez doubled down the line to put two in scoring position to begin the inning. A failed fielder's choice allowed the first run to come home and a passed ball brought home another. A double dropped down the right-field line for Tacia Kahalewai putting runners at second and third with Lara Edeker driving both runners home on a single to left-center to take the lead. Dominican was unable to mount a comeback ending the day with a split.
The Penguins wrap up its season series with Jessup on Saturday as it travels to Rocklin for a doubleheader beginning at noon PDT at Foskett Regional Park.
