Winter Haven, Fla.—The Dominican University Softball Team was back on the diamond for their first games of their spring break trip at "The Spring Games." DU played Kean in their first game and followed it up against Albertus Magnus.


Results:
Dominican: 3
Kean: 4

How it Happened:
-The Cougars of Kean threaten in the first inning, getting the bases loaded on two walks and a base hit up the middle, before Sophomore Rhiannon Rubio closed the door on a fly out to right field that Senior Paytin Salfi caught in foul territory to get the Stars to bat.
-DU got two runners on base but could not grab a run with the speedster Sophomore Kayla Amormino left on third base.
-Kean once again loaded the bases, but Junior Kailee Diaz Randall made two plays at second base to keep the Cougars from scoring.
-The Stars got their first hit of the game in the second inning, on a sharp line drive to left field by Diaz Randall, she then moved to second base with a stolen base. Sophomore Isabella Olmos drove home the first run of the game on a ground ball through the middle, bringing home Diaz Randall.
-The second run of the inning came on an errant throw by the catcher as Olmos stole second base, Junior Emme Slavens scampered home as the ball rolled into right center field. Dominican took a 2-0 lead into the top of the third inning.
-After the lead off hitter for KU got to third on an error, Diaz Randall threw the runner out at home on a ground ball to second. The Stars got out of the inning on an Olmos to Sophomore Madisen Butler double-play ball.
-The Cougars finally struck in the top of the fifth inning by scoring 3 runs on 5 hits. Sophomore Hannah Richards entered the ballgame after the three runs were scored and stopped the bleeding, striking out two batters and getting a groundout to shortstop.
-DU was unable to gain any momentum back with them going three up and three down.
-Richards kept her groove, adding a strikeout in the 6th while keeping Kean from scoring.
-Dominican tied the game up in the bottom of the sixth inning with Slavens hitting an RBI ground-rule double to right-center field, scoring Sophomore Sara Cornell who ran for Salfi.
-KU manufactured a run in the top of the 7^th inning with no hits and taking advantage of a DU error.
-The Stars collected a two-out single but could not get the tying run across.
 
Shining Stars:
-Junior Emme Slavens went 1-2 with a run scored, an RBI, a double, and a walk.
-Sophomore Isabella Olmos went 1-4 with an RBI and a stolen base.
-Junior Kailee Diaz Randall went 1-3 with a run scored.
-Sophomore Hannah Richards threw 3 innings in relief and collected 3 strikeouts while giving up no earned runs and only two hits.

Leading the Way:
Hits: 5 Players (1) 
RBI: Olmos and Slavens (1)
2B: Slavens (1)
SB: 6 Players (1)
BB: Amormino, Rae. Davis, and Slavens (1)
IP: Rubio (4)
K's: Richards (3)
 
Results:
Dominican: 8
Albertus Magnus: 5
 
How it Happened:
-Sophomore Raegyn Davis got the first hit of the game on a ball to the second baseman, but DU was unable to get the runner across.
-Junior starting pitcher Liberty Rivard got Albertus Magnus to go three-up, three-down with two ground outs and a strikeout.
-The Falcons returned the favor with Dominican going three up, three down in the top of the second inning.
-AMU got on the board first in the bottom of the second inning by scoring two runs on two hits and a walk.
-Both schools retired in three batters in the third inning, with the Falcons leading 2-0 going into the fourth inning.
-The Stars broke through in their half of the fourth inning, scoring 3 runs, Rae. Davis got the first hit of the inning, with Senior Ryley Davis following in her younger sister's tracks. Senior Paytin Salfi walked to load the bases. On the very next pitch all runners advanced on a wild pitch, getting DU on the board. Junior Kailee Diaz Randall followed it up by reaching on an error by the second third baseman, driving home Ry. Davis. Dominican earned the third run of the inning with the catcher trying to back-pick Salfi at third but hitting the bat of Freshman Kendall Parker, which brought the runner home.
-Albertus Magnus responded quickly, getting the bases loaded with one out, Rae. Davis caught a line drive at first that ended the inning by her stepping on the bag for a double play.
-DU carried that momentum from the third to the fourth, with Sophomore Isabella Olmos hitting a lead off triple, Sophomore Kayla Amormino followed it up with a perfect bunt that put runners on the corners for the Stars. After a stolen base by Amormino, Rae. Davis delivered with another hit, this one a 2-RBI double to left-center field that gave Dominican a 5-2 lead headed into the bottom of the fifth inning.
-After a leadoff single by the Falcons, Rivard shut them down the rest of the inning.
-The first two batters got out for the Stars in the top of the sixth inning, and Senior Leilani Guzman, wearing a pitch on the shoulder, ignited the whole DU inning.
-After the Guzman hit-by-pitch, Olmos laid down a great bunt that moved over Freshman Adison Hasse who was running for Guzman, to third base. Hasse and Olmos both scored on a passed ball or wild pitch. Amormino then scored on an error by the center fielder, making the score 8-2 in favor of the Stars.
-Rivard kept it rolling in the circle, getting the Falcons to go in order.
-After back-to-back walks by Freshman Charlie Harris and Erin Kelleher the Stars went 1, 2, 3.
-Albertus Magnus tried to come back, but Senior Elise Gamino earned the save in the Stars first win of the season.

 
Shining Stars:
-Sophomore Raegyn Davis was one of the players of the game, going 3-4 with 2 RBI's, a run scored, and a double.
-Junior Liberty Rivard was the second player of the game, throwing 6 innings with 4 strikeouts and picking up the win.
-Sophomore Isabella Olmos went 2-4 with a triple, a stolen base, and 2 runs scored.
-Sophomore Kayla Amormino went 1-3 with 2 runs scored and 2 stolen bases.
 
Leading the Way:
Hits: Rae. Davis (3)
Run: Amormino and Olmos (2)
2B: Rae. Davis (1)
3B: Olmos (1)
SB: Amormino (2)
HBP: Guzman (1)
IP: Rivard (6)
K's: Rivard (4)


What's Next:
Dominican University Softball moves to 1-5 on the season and will head to their second day in Florida, being 1-1 so far. The Stars will play Wittenberg University at 3:45 p.m. EST and Husson University at 6:30 p.m. EST tomorrow, Monday, March 9th.