Northridge, Calif. - On the second day of competition at the Cal State Northridge Invitational, the Pacific softball team split a pair of games dropping the opener, 7-1, to Harvard before coming back to best the host Matadors, 4-1, snapping the six game winning streak for Cal State Northridge in the process. After the completion of games Saturday, Pacific's record sits at 11-16. Harvard improves to 11-11 while Cal State Northridge falls to 19-10 in defeat.

In the second game of the day against Cal State Northridge, Pacific got a strong performance from senior starter Tori Shepard, who did not allow an earned run, striking out five over seven innings. Pacific benefited from a three-run home run by freshman Cassidy Gustafson in the fifth inning. The blast, which proved to be the game-winner, was the third of the season for the freshman third baseman.

Shepard (4-6) and Matadors starter Brianan Elder (14-4), swapped scoreless innings for the first four frames. Elder stranded a double by freshman Bailey O'Mara in the first inning, and Shepard work around baserunners in all four innings, stranding two runners each in the third and fourth innings.

In the top of the fifth, Pacific's offense came alive with a single by junior Alex Steinmehl. The next hitter Gustafson reached on a fielder's choice as Elder elected to throw to second and Steinmehl easily beat the throw to put runners at first and second. Sara Anderson drew a one-out walk to load the bases and pinch hitter sophomore Taylor Brink was summoned from the bench to hit for senior Gabby Goyette. Brink connected on a sacrifice fly to give Pacific a 1-0 advantage, breaking the scoreless tie.

In the bottom of the fifth, Abby Linn singled, but Shepard was not phased by the base runner, ending the inning with an emphatic swinging strikeout of Katie Hooper.

In the top of the sixth, freshman Bailey O'Mara lined out to center field as Matador center fielder Taylor Glover made an outstanding diving catch to rob the Tiger catcher of at least a single. The next hitter, sophomore Nicole Zapotoczny, had better luck, roping a double over the head of Glover. After senior Taylor Petty advanced Zapotoczny to third on a groundout and junior Alex Steinmehl was hit by a pitch, Gustafson powered a towering home run to left field for a three-run home run and a 4-0 Pacific lead.

The Matadors would score an unearned run in the bottom of the sixth, as Carissa Sherman reached on a bunt single, advanced to third on a throwing error by Shepard and scored on a single by Taylor Nate to cut the Pacific advantage to 4-1.

The 4-1 line would hold as the final score, as Shepard worked through the seventh despite walking Linn with one out. Gustafson's three RBI paced the Orange and Black while O'Mara, Zapotoczny, Steinmehl also contributed hits. Shepard pitched craftily, evading baserunners in every inning and allowing just the one unearned run.

In the first game, Pacific sent freshman Gustafson (0-3) to the circle. Gustafson, making her first start since Feb . 20 against Virginia, worked around a pair of baserunners in the first frame. Pacific failed to score in the bottom of the frame, a leadoff double by Adrienne Hume came into score for the Crimson on a Katherine Lantz sacrifice fly.

Harvard would add another run in the third on a Kasey Lange RBI single to center field for a 2-0 advantage. Harvard starter Taylor Cable (3-6) held the Tigers scoreless through the first four innings, finishing a complete game four-hit performance with four strikeouts.

A Lantz home run highlighted a five run fifth inning for the Crimson lead before a Gustafson triple and a RBI groundout by Zapotoczny gave Pacific a run back in the bottom of the frame to cut the lead to 7-1.

The 7-1 Harvard advantage would prove to be the final score as Cabe set down Pacific in the sixth and seventh frames.

Freshman catcher Jessica Pasco grounded out in her first career at-bat in the seventh inning after coming in as a defensive replacement for Alex Steinmehl in the previous inning. Gustafson's triple was the only extra base hit for the Tigers in the contest.

Pacific will be back in action as the Cal State Northridge Invitational concludes on Matador Diamond. The Tigers will take on Bakersfield (9:00 am) and the host Matadors (11:30 am) before heading back to Northern California. Live stats for both games will be available via PacificTigers.com

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