Fresno, Calif. - In the final game of the its stay at the Fresno State Classic, the Pacific Softball team was edged 5-4 by the Providence Friars, as a seventh inning comeback bid fell just short with the tying and winning runs stranded in scoring position. Pacific sits at 9-20 following defeat while Providence moves to 5-10 with the victory at Margie Wright Diamond on the Fresno State Campus.

The Tigers took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning as junior Nicole Zapotoczny crushed a double down the left field line to lead off the frame against Friars starter Christina Ramirez (2-5) and later came in to score on a sacrifice fly from sophomore Cassidy Gustafson. In the top of the third, Providence rallied with two out against Tiger starter senior Dani Bonnet (5-9). Bonnet set down Sarah Kitterman and Lauren Paiva on consecutive groundouts to the left side of the infield before Kiki Baldassari and Shanelle Harrell poked singles through the defense. The next hitter, Kelsi Luttrell, homered to left field, giving the Friars a 3-1 lead.

After the Tigers were retired in the bottom of the inning, Providence went back to work in the top of the fourth adding two more on four singles, with Paiva and Baldassari picking up RBI singles to make it 5-1. The second straight rally for Providence chased Bonnet from the contest, as Pacific summoned freshman Megan Walters to the circle. Walters induced a flyout and a groundout to strand the bases loaded and limit the damage to just two runs in the fourth frame.

In the bottom of the fifth, Pacific pushed across a run as senior Kamalei Pitoy and junior Sara Anderson reached on consecutive singles. Providence then went to the bullpen, as Kiara Amos came into the contest in relief of Ramirez. Amos induced three consecutive groundouts, with a one-out fielder's choice off the bat of freshman Molly Bourne leading to a Pacific run, cutting the Friars lead to 5-2.

After Walters threw another scoreless inning in the top of the sixth, Pacific added two more runs in the sixth, jettisoning Amos from the contest in the process. Freshman Sydney Lahners walked ahead of back-to-back singles from senior Alex Steinmehl and Gustafson to load the bases. With one down, Pitoy grounded into a fielder's choice, plating a run and Gustafson scored on a wild pitch from new Friars hurler Taylor Huntly. Anderson singled to put runners on the corners but pinch hitter junior Taylor Brink grounded to third and Pacific settled for a two run frame, cutting the deficit to 5-4.

Walters worked out of trouble in the top of the seventh, walking a pair of Providence batters but retiring the side without damage. Molly Bourne led off the bottom of the seventh with a double to left field and moved to third on a ground ball by Zapotoczny. Lahners followed, reaching on an error by the third baseman Harrell. The Providence defense kept the ball from reaching the outfield, forcing Bourne to stay put at third base. Steinmehl grounded to third, advancing Lahners into scoring position for Gustafson. Gustafson tapped a sharp ground ball to Harrell, who was able to make a lunging play for the ball and throw to first for the putout, sending Pacific to its third straight defeat after opening the Fresno State Classic with a victory.

Walters was a standout in the circle, tossing 3.2 innings of one-hit relief, giving the Tigers a chance to chip away at the Providence lead. Anderson and Steinmehl each rapped a pair of singles for Pacific, leading the way as the Orange and Black outhit the Friars 9-8. Pitoy registered her first hit of the season and added an RBI in her first offensive start of the 2015 campaign.

Pacific returns to Stockton with the Louisville Slugger Invitational on the horizon next weekend. The second home ournament of the year for the Tigers will also feature Cal State Northridge, Grand Canyon and UConn. The action gets started at 11:00 am on Friday morning at Bill Simoni Field. Live video and stats links for each contest will be available via PacificTigers.com on the Louisville Slugger Invitational tournament central page.

For the latest on the Pacific Softball team, follow @PacificSoftball on Twitter and Instagram.