2015 Libby Matson Tournament Central

Stockton, Calif. - In the final game of the 2015 Libby Matson Tournament, The Pacific Softball (6-13) team dropped a 6-2 decision to Montana (2-12), despite tying a season high with four doubles. The Tigers sent Dani Bonnet (3-6) to the circle, facing off against Kenzie Cole (1-6) of Montana. Cole, who finished the first game of the day for Montana, pitched in every game of the tournament for the Grizzlies as the only senior for the young Montana staff.  

The Grizzlies pushed a run across in the first against Bonnet, as Gabby Martinez singled through the ride side of the infield and advanced to second on a passed ball. She came in to score on a Lexie Brenneis single that tipped off the glove of sophomore Cassidy Gustafson at third base, putting Montana ahead 1-0 in the first inning. Bonnet worked out of the jam, limiting the damage to just the one run in the frame.

After Cole and Bonnet each hurled a scoreless inning, the Tigers had a great scoring opportunity in the bottom of the second. Gustafson singled to lead off the inning and stole second before freshman Rachel Sellers walked. With two out, sophomore Toni Santos reached on a bunt single but Cole retired Anderson with a sharp grounder to shortstop, as Pacific stranded three in the frame.

In the top of the third, Delene Colburn singled with one out and Lexie Brenneis followed with a home run to straight away center field, pushing the Grizzlies advantage to 3-0. The Tigers stranded a leadoff double from freshman Molly Bourne in the bottom of the inning.

Bonnet worked out of trouble in the fourth, as Montana stranded a pair, but the Tigers couldn't push across a run after a one-out double by junior Taylor Brink. Montana rallied for three against Bonnet in the top of the fifth, capped by a MacKenzie Kutzke double that plated a pair before the Tigers moved Gustafson from third base to the circle. Gustafson surrendered a single to Madison Saacke that made the scoreline 6-0 before retiring the side.

Freshman Sydney Lahners doubled with two out in the bottom of the fifth, but did not score before Cole had a perfect frame in the sixth. The Tigers entered the bottom of the seventh trailing 6-0. With one out, pinch hitter Kamalei Pitoy walked, representing the the first baserunner of the inning. With two down, junior Nicole Zapotoczny doubled to left field, advancing Pitoy to third. Lahners singled to center field, tallying 2 RBI as Pitoy and Zapotoczny came in to score to cut the Montana lead to 6-2. Gustafson grounded out to third to end the inning, sending Pacific to a loss in the tournament finale.

For the Tigers, Lahners was 2-3 with 2 RBI to lead all starters while Bourne went 2-4 with a single and a double. Bonnet struck out four, walking none in 4.1 innings. Gustafson pitched 2.2 innings of scoreless relief, surrendering four hits. Defensively, junior Melanie Habib excelled with five putouts and five assists, including a diving stop to start a double play in the sixth.

Pacific will return to action on Thursday, March 5 with a 3:30 pm contest against No. 16 Auburn at the Judi Garman Classic in Fullerton, Calif. Live stats for the contest will be available via PacificTigers.com - Be sure to follow @PacificSoftball on Twitter and Instagram for the latest updates on the Pacific softball program.