Fresno, Calif. - The Pacific softball wrapped up its stay at the Fresno State Classic, falling to the Ohio State Buckeyes, 4-1. The Buckeyes benefited from four unearned runs in the fifth inning. Pacific falls to 8-14 on the year while Ohio State moves to 11-13.

Pacific starter senior Tori Shepard (3-5)  and Ohio State hurler Olivia O'Reilly (3-2)   delivered zeros for the first three innings. Shepard worked out of jams in the second and third, stranding runners in each frame, while O'Reilly did not allow a hit through the first three. The game took on a brisk pace, despite O'Reilly finishing with four walks.

The Tigers got on the scoreboard first in the top of the fourth inning. After two were out, sophomore Nicole Zapotoczny appeared to fly out to end the inning in foul territory, but second baseman Melaina Saafield dropped the foul pop-up, giving Zapotoczny new life in the at-bat. She reached on a full count walk and the next hitter junior Alex Steinmehl delivered a long double to center field, scoring Zapotoczny from first and giving Pacific a 1-0 advantage.

Shepard worked around a two-out double to O'Reilly in the bottom of the fourth, but after the Tigers went scoreless in the top of the fifth, the Tigers ran into trouble in the bottom of the inning.

Keelia Nester led off the inning with a slow chopper to third base and third baseman junior Kamalei Pitoy had no throw as Nester reached first with an infield single. Caitlin Conrad sacrificed Nester into scoring position for the first out of the inning and the next hitter Taylor Watkins hit a sharp ground ball to first baseman freshman Bailey O'Mara, who attempted to nab the lead runner Nester at third base. Nester beat the throw and the Buckeyes had runners on first and third with one out. Taylor Watkins then hit into a fielder's choice, catching Nester in a rundown between third and home. Pitoy's throw home was off line, allowing Nester to score to tie the score at 1-1.  

With two out and two on, Melaina Saafeld doubled into left field, scoring a pair for a 3-1 Ohio State advantage.  The Buckeyes would add another run in the inning, on a infield single by Erika Leonard, to take a 4-1 advantage that would hold as the final score.

Pacific was able to put the first two runners of the seventh inning on base courtesy of an error and a walk, but O'Reilly retired the side, completing the three-hitter with a flyout and two straight groundouts to send the Orange and Black to defeat.

O'Mara, Steinmehl and sophomore Taylor Brink had hits for the Tigers, who will be back at home on Wednesday, March 19 to face Princeton in a doubleheader. The first game begins at 4:00 pm with the second game to follow at approximately 6:00 pm.

See PacificTigers.com for live video and live stats links and stay tuned to @PacificSoftball on Twitter and Instagram for updates from Bill Simoni Field.