Taylor Rodriguez scattered 11 hits across seven innings as the Dominican University softball team clinched a berth in the PacWest Conference Tournament for the first time in program history following a 7-2 win against Biola on Saturday.

The Penguins (32-21, 23-13 PacWest) clinched at least the No. 4 seed with their Game 1 victory then won the second game of the doubleheader 5-3 for good measure. Dominican could move up to the No. 3 seed if Azusa Pacific drops one of its two games against Vanguard later on Saturday.

The top of Dominican’s order did the damage in the clinching game as leadoff hitter Tiare Guerrero and No. 2 hitter Payton Oas had two hits apiece. No. 3 hitter Kate Tobola had three hits — including two doubles — and drove in a run. Dominican broke open the game with a four-run fifth inning, featuring RBI hits from Kelissa Lee, Annabelle Burke, and Aneesa Brewer.

Rodriguez struck out four and walked none while moving her record to 18-5 on the season.

The third annual conference tournament is set to take place from Wednesday through Friday at Concordia University Irvine. The Penguins, who were the first team out of the tournament in each of the past two seasons, will face against top-seeded Biola (37-15, 29-7) or host Concordia Irvine (37-14, 25-11).

Prep baseball

Sam Gersch hit a two-run double in the bottom of the seventh inning as Redwood walked off with a 4-3 win against Saint Francis on Saturday. Theo Trono and Chase Johnson scored on the play. Miles Harrison had two hits and the other two RBIs for the Giants (12-8-1).

• Julian Oliver hit second home run of the week and pitched two innings in relief to lead Novato to a 5-3 win against Pinole Valley on Saturday. Novato’s top three hitters — Gio Castaing, Dominic Scafani, and Oliver — all had two hits. Castaing and Scafani each drove in a run for the Hornets (11-8).

• Holden Cane and Treyvor Matthews had three hits apiece and combined to drive in five runs as Branson rolled to a 10-0 win against Bay in five innings Saturday. Matthews had a game-high three RBIs while Cane and Thomas Lardner drove in two runs each. Mo Jacoby started on the mound, allowing one hit with seven strikeouts in four innings.

• Luke Martin and Jude Baker had two hits each as Marin Catholic fell 4-3 against Sacred Heart Cathedral on Saturday. Baker and Carson Davis had RBIs for MC (10-9).

Boys track and field

San Marin High’s Leo Mattiuzzo was less than a second off the winning time, but in a highly competitive field in the 100 meters, the Mustangs junior came up 19th overall at the Sacramento Meet of Champions on Saturday. Mattiuzzo crossed the line in 11.12 seconds, close behind the time of 10.76 set by winner Erin Foster of Mountain House. The Mustangs’ Justin Catanach took 11th (4:19.79) in the boys 1,600.

• Terra Linda senior Tristan Collins took sixth place in the boys shot put with a throw of 42 feet, 1 inch at the Clash of the Titans, hosted by Skyline High on Saturday. Novato High senior Nathan Matsumoto ran a personal-best 53.79 seconds to place 14th in the 400. The Hornets’ Cruz Indra placed 14th (10:35.90) in the 3,200 and 19th in the discus (96’5”) with a pair of PRs. Branson School sophomore Shiloh Williams was a split-second off the podium as he took 19th place in the boys 100 meter in 11.76 seconds. The Bulls’ Braxton Armstrong was 13th in the boys high jump at 5’2”.

Girls track and field

Terra Linda senior Annie Carmona won the 800 meters with a personal-best 2:19.38 at the Clash of the Titans, hosted by Skyline High on Saturday. Teammate Victoria Pappas placed seventh (2:31.02).

Branson School senior Imogen Brown took the podium with a third-place finish in the 400. Brown set a personal best of 58.86 seconds, less than a half-second off the pace. Teammate Lauren Wood was ninth (1:01.98). Branson’s Lily Gross was third in the girls high jump (4 feet, 4 inches) and ninth in the girls shot put with a PR of 25 feet, 3 inches.

TL senior Milena Taschian placed fourth in the girls 100 meter in 12.89 seconds, less than a half-second off the winning time. She also placed sixth in the 200 (26.68). Novato’s Audrey Kobayashi was fourth in the discus (102 feet).