Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Game 1 Box Score

Game 2 Box Score

TURLOCK, Calif. - Metro State opened the 2012 softball season on Friday with a split against Dominican (Calif.) in Turlock, Calif., falling 7-4 in game one, before a 4-1 victory in game two. The games featured a pair of first-year head coaches in Metro State's Kristi Lansford and DUC's Roni Sparrey.

Game One
Metro State jumped out to a 4-0 lead after four innings, but two fifth-inning errors led to a five-run inning as the Penguins pulled off the comeback.

Molly Clark (Lakewood, Colo./Lakewood H.S.) scored on Kasey Nichols (Springville, Calif./Porterville H.S.)' base hit to left field in the bottom of the first and Aubree Maul (Fort Collins, Colo./Rocky Mountain H.S.) belted a three-run home run in the fourth for the 4-0 lead.

Meanwhile, starting pitcher Jordyn Randolph (Arvada, Colo./Pomona H.S.) was cruising through her first career appearance in the circle for Metro, limiting DUC to one hit through four innings.

But a leadoff walk in the fifth, coupled with a pair of errors and a two-run triple by Kellie Hislop led to the big inning for Dominican.

The Penguins added two more in the seventh on a two-run double by Hislop off reliever Brittany Moss (Northglenn, Colo./Northglenn H.S.).

Game Two
Maul was outstanding as the starting pitcher for Metro in game two, holding DUC to three hits with no walks allowed, while striking out five in the complete game. Dominican pushed its lone run across with two outs in the first inning.

Maul also escaped a bases loaded, nobody out jam in the third, using a fielder's choice, strikeout and pop out to end the threat.

Offensively, Metro State tied the game in the top of the third when Mary Towner (Arvada, Colo./Ralston Valley H.S.), who hit a one-out triple to right, scored on Clark's sacrifice fly.

Nichols and Maul led off the sixth with back-to-back singles and Kelsey Tillery (Windsor, Colo./Windsor H.S.) blasted her first career home run to left field for the 4-1 lead and the final score of the game.

Maul did not allow a hit after a leadoff single in the third.

For the day, Nichols led the Roadrunners at the plate, going 6-for-8. Towner was 4-for-8 with two doubles and a triple.