Stockton, Calif. - In a midweek non-conference clash, the Pacific Softball team was defeated by the Sacramento State Hornets, 9-5, at Bill Simoni Field. The highlight of the game for the Tigers was a triple play turned by the defense in the fourth inning, just the second triple play in Pacific Softball history. The Tigers fall to 13-22 with the loss while Sacramento State sits at 18-16 with the victory.

The Tigers sent Dani Bonnet (7-7) to the circle to face the Hornets. Bonnet worked around a pair of singles in the first frame, getting out of trouble without allowing a run.

Pacific would strike first in the bottom of the frame against Hornets starter Jennifer Hartman (5-5) after Senior Gabby Goyette and Sophomore Melanie Habib singled back-to-back to open the inning. Senior Taylor Petty sacrificed both runners into scoring position and later in the inning sophomore Nicole Zapotoczny reached on an error by Hornets shortstop Paige Castro, scoring Goyette for a 1-0 advantage for the hosts.

Bonnet would get into trouble in the top of the second. Castro reached first on a bunt single to begin the inning and Nikki Gialketsis walked to put two runners on. With two out, Alex Chattleton doubled to left field, scoring a run to tie the game at 1-1. Paige Martin followed with a two-RBI infield single to give Sacramento State the 3-1 advantage. The next hitter for the Hornets, Kortney Solis, reached on an error by first baseman Bailey O'Mara, advancing Martin to second and setting up an RBI opportunity for Sasha Marguiles. Marguiles singled through the right side of the infield for an RBI and Alexis Martinez followed with an RBI single of her own to make it 5-1 Hornets.

Hartman (5-5) delivered a shutdown inning for the visitors in the top of the second, allowing back-to-back walks but stranding a pair of Tigers. Bonnet followed with her own scoreless frame and the score remained 5-1 through two and a half.

In the bottom of the third, Pacific's offense responded. Petty led off the inning with a triple to center field, off the glove of Chattleton and with one out, Zapotoczny delivered a long home run to left field, scoring Petty and cutting the Sacramento State advantage to just 5-3.

In the top of the fourth, Sacramento State again threatened with a leadoff double by Martin and a single by Solis, setting the table for Margulies, who delivered an RBI single to give the Hornets a 6-3 lead. The next hitter, Martinez lined sharply to Habib at shortstop, who quickly stepped on second base, forcing Solis off second base and threw to O'Mara at first to complete the triple play.

The rare feat was just the second in Pacific Softball history and the first since March 6, 2012 when Nicole Matson, Nikki Armagost and Amy Moore connected for an unconventional triple play in the fifth inning at San Jose State.

With the momentum on their side following the triple play, the Pacific offense got off to a promising start in the bottom of the fourth. Goyette walked and Habib was hit by a pitch, but the Tigers hit into a double play to end the frame.

The Hornets started the top of the fifth with a pair of one-out baserunners and the Bullpen was summoned, as Tori Shepard came in to relieve Bonnet. Shepard got out of the inning without allowing further damage.

Pacific added a run in the bottom of the fifth as Zapotoczny walked to begin the inning and took second on freshman Cassidy Gustafson's single to center field. With one out, sophomore Sara Anderson laid down a perfect bunt single to second base, scoring a run to cut the Hornets advantage to 6-4 momentarily.

In the top of the sixth, the Hornets responded with a three run inning, including two bases loaded walks and an error on Gustafson, to extend the lead to 9-4.

Gustafson would add an RBI single in the bottom of the inning against new pitcher Kaitlyn Yerby to make the score 9-5. The mark would prove to be the final, as Gustafson moved to the circle in the top of the seventh, delivering a scoreless frame in her home pitching debut before the Tigers went down in the bottom of the frame, despite a pair of baserunners.

For the Tigers, Goyette, Habib, Gustafson and Anderson eached had a pair of hits while Zapotoczny had a multi-RBi game thanks to her third home run of the season.

Habib impressed defensively, starting a double play in the fifth inning in addition to the triple play in the fourth.

The Tigers will return to conference action on Saturday at Loyola Marymount in a doubleheader starting at 12:00 pm.

Be sure to follow @PacificSoftball on Twitter and Instagram for the latest updates from Los Angeles.