Newport Beach, Calif. – The No. 18 Pacific women's water polo team split a pair of contests Sunday as the Tigers fell to 17th-ranked UC San Diego, 9-8, before defeating CSU Bakersfield, 4-3, at Corona del Mar HS.

Sophomore Brydie Pye led the Tigers with five goals on the day, four coming versus UC San Diego. Freshman Gracie Smith added four scores. Junior goalkeeper Michele Relton finished the day with 31 saves, blocking a season-high 17 shots against CSUB.

In Pacific's first game, the Tritons wasted little time in getting started, scoring early in the first frame. Pye responded on Pacific's next possession to tie the game, but UCSD scored two consecutive goals to go up by two, 3-1. Smith broke the Tritons' run with a goal midway through the frame, and would find the back of the cage again after UCSD tallied its fifth goal, pulling the Tigers to within two, 5-3, after one.

Smith and Pye each scored to open the second quarter, tying the match at 5-5. The Tritons got a lucky bounce as Relton made a save that UCSD recovered and put in to regain its lead, but junior Elise Martin put one past the Tritons' keeper late in the frame, sending the match into halftime tied at 6-6.

Pacific took its first lead of the game early in the third as Pye struck for her third goal, but UC San Diego answered to tie the game at 7-7. Neither team would score for the rest of the period as the game headed into the fourth quarter all square.

After USCD regained its lead early in the fourth, Pye scored her fourth of the game to knot things at 8-8. Pye was then whistled for an ejection, prompting the Tritons to call a timeout. UCSD would convert its six-on-five opportunity to take a 9-8 lead, and managed to hold Pacific scoreless down the stretch to secure the win.

Pacific's second game was a low-scoring affair as first-quarter goals from junior Malena Prlain and Pye gave Pacific a 2-1 lead after one. Both teams struggled to find their offenses through the second and third quarters, going scoreless in the frames.

Smith extended the Tigers' lead to two, 3-1, before junior Rebecca Wright gave Pacific a three-goal advantage midway through the fourth. CSU Bakersfield would score twice down the stretch but a medical emergency saw the game end with 18 seconds left on the clock.

Three different CSUB players scored on the day while Bayer recorded 13 saves in the cage.

Pacific continues its nonconference schedule Saturday, Mar. 3, when it versus Concordia (Calif.) when 10:15 a.m. this Saturday. 

No. 17 UC San Diego 9, No. 18 Pacific 8
Pacific 3 – 3 – 1 – 1 –– 8
UC San Diego 5 – 1 – 1 – 2 –– 9 

Goals
Pacific – Pye 4, Smith 3, Martin
UC San Diego – Barlow 2, Lizotte 2, Guilana, Kristler, Sasson, Wiesler 

Goalkeeper Saves
Pacific – Relton 14
UC San Diego – Miller 9 

No. 18 Pacific 4, CSU Bakersfield 3
Pacific 2 – 0 – 0 – 2 –– 4
CSU Bakersfield 1 – 0 – 0 – 2 –– 3 

Goals
Pacific – Prlain, Pye, Smith, Wright
CSU Bakersfield – Brownzing, Smead, Sheard