Milwaukee, IL – The Dominican University softball team took the field Saturday afternoon in a double-header matchup against the #16 MSOE Raiders dropping game one 9-1 and game two 3-2.
 
The Raiders put up three runs in the bottom of the first inning as a lead-off hit by pitch was brought in via a double down the left-field line before an RBI to center field brought in the second run for the Raiders. Another RBI by MSOE would bring the third runner across the plate to end the inning, 3-0 MSOE.
 
In the bottom of the second MSOE singled before an RBI double to left field to bring in the runner from first. The Raiders would hit a fly ball out to center-field to end the second inning up 4-0.
 
Lavin Catrambone started off the top of the fourth inning for the Stars as she had a single to right field. A Hailey Morland walk would advance the runner to second before a double from Candace Kipp brought Catrambone in from second to get the Stars on the board making 4-1. MSOE would respond with two runs of their own in the bottom of the inning to extend the Raiders' lead to 6-1.
 
A single by the Raiders hurt the Stars a couple of innings later as an MSOE RBI single up the middle brought that runner across the plate to make it 7-1. A wild pitch by Dominican would bring in another run for the Raiders before another single by MSOE would close out the game 9-1.
 
The Stars ended the first game with one run, eight hits, and one error while MSOE ended with nine runs, 13 hits, and one error. Estera Piorek took the mound for the first time in her collegiate career striking out three hitters and walking two in the game. 

"A few mistakes in game one cost us several runs. With a team that hits like MSOE, you can only give them three outs," said Head Coach Cristina Lukas. "You have to play a clean game to stay in it." 
 
The Stars started scoring in the second game in the top of the fourth when Lexi Breceda hit a single to right field before Dominican's next two hitters reached first by being hit by a pitch to load the bases for the Stars. An error by the Raiders would bring in Breceda and Olivia Johnson to put the Stars ahead 2-0.MSOE would answer back as they recorded two runs on five hits in the bottom of the fourth to tie the game 2-2.
 
The game remained close until the bottom of the seventh inning as the Raiders loaded the bases with two outs. A single to the pitcher would bring the runner in from third to walk it off 3-2 in the Raiders' favor.
 
The Stars ended game two with two runs, five hits, and one error while the Raiders had three runs, 13 hits, and two errors in the game. Allyson Dilday was on the mound walking two hitters and striking out six in the game.

"Game two was a fun and exciting game. Both teams played extremely well and the game could have gone either way," continued Coach Lukas. "Both teams had chances to score but MSOE caught the break. They earned their win and I hope we can play in more games like this one." 

The Stars return to action Tuesday, March 23rd when they host Alverno College in a double-header matchup with a start time of 4:30 p.m.