Moraga, Calif. - The Pacific Softball team notched a doubleheader sweep on Saturday, dispatching the Saint Mary's Gaels, 6-1 and 2-1, at Cotrell Field in Moraga. Pacific received stellar pitching performances from junior Dani Bonnet (9-7) and Tori Shepard (6-11) to improve to 17-24 overall and 6-3 in WCC conference play.

The Gaels struck first in game one against Saint Mary's starter Sarah Lira. In the second inning, sophomore Melanie Habib led off with a single that dropped down the left field line and came into score on freshman Cassidy Gustafson's double to left field, giving the Tigers the early 1-0 advantage.

Pacific starter Bonnet delivered a shutdown inning, getting the Gaels in order in the bottom of the inning. The Tigers went back to work on offense in the third, as sophomore Sara Anderson singled up the middle and stole second. Senior Gabby Goyette followed with a single through the right side of the infield, advancing Anderson to third base.

Senior Taylor Petty flew out to center field for a sacrifice fly, scoring Anderson to extend the Pacific lead to 2-0. Goyette stole second and Habib walked to load the bases for senior Megan Foglesong. The Gaels went to the bullpen early, summoning Katie Moss. Foglesong was unfazed by the new pitcher, delivering a two-run single through the right side to put the Tigers ahead 4-0.

Bonnet shut down the Gaels in the third, working around a pair of singles. In the top of the fourth, the Orange and Black offensive continued against Moss. Goyette doubled to left field and Petty followed with a home run to left field, clearing the fence easily and almost reaching the Cotrell Field scoreboard for a 6-0 lead.

Saint Mary's added a run in the bottom of the inning courtesy of a bases loaded walk from Bonnet, but the junior recovered, allowing just one in the frame.

Moss pitched valiantly in relief of Lira, striking out seven Tigers in 4.2 innings of work.

Bonnet was masterful, striking out three and allowing just one earned run in a complete-game, seven hit effort.

In the second game, the Tigers faced Lujane Mussadi (11-11) and capitalized on a pair of early errors by the Gaels, taking a 1-0 lead after one frame thanks to an infield single from Goyette. The run scored when sophomore Nicole Zapotoczny hit a grounder to third base that was thrown down the right field line and misplayed by the right fielder Christine Torrise, allowing Goyette to take home.

Shepard and Mussadi would make quick work of the opposing lineups until the Tigers threatened in the top of the fifth frame. Freshman Bailey O'Mara reached on an error by the first baseman Lira to lead off the inning, and freshman Cassidy Gustafson followed with a fielder's choice, forcing O'Mara out at second. Gustafson reached scoring position on Alex Steinmehl's groundout, setting the stage for Anderson with two out. Anderson singled to center field, but Gustafson was called  out by Brittany Sabatini's throw home.

In the sixth, the Tigers got on the scoreboard with a necessary insurance run. Petty hit a one-out double and Zapotoczny singled through the left side of the infield, scoring a crucial run to make it 2-0 Tigers.

The run would prove to be the difference in the contest as Shepard allowed a leadoff home run from Torrise in the bottom of the seventh inning, cutting the Pacific advantage to just 2-1. Shepard induced a pair of foul outs, but Katelyn Mamizuka represented the tying run at second base and two out via a one-out double.

Erica Musgrave stepped to the dish, and grounded a ball that the shortstop Habib juggled, allowing Musgrave to reach first. However, Mamizuka was overly aggressive on the basepaths, rounding third hard just as Habib gained control of the ball. Habib tossed to junior Kamalei Pitoy at third base, picking off Mamizuka and sending the Tigers to their third straight conference series victory in dramatic fashion.

Shepard had a stellar outing, allowing just five hits and one earned run in the complete game effort, tallying three strikeouts. Two of the five hits came in the final frame as Saint Mary's mounted an unsuccessful late rally.

Pacific will return to action on Wednesday at 6:00 pm as UC Davis makes the quick trip to Bill Simoni Field for a non-conference clash.

On Saturday, San Diego comes to Bill Simoni Field for yet another battle for conference supremacy as the Toreros have pulled into a tie with the Tigers for the conference lead at 6-3.

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