Berkeley, Calif. - In the final road contest for the Pacific softball team this season, the Tigers dropped a 4-1 decision to the No. 18 California Golden Bears at Levine-Fricke Field on the University of California campus. Pacific sits at 17-34 after the non-conference loss while Cal improved to 35-13 with the midweek home win.

Pacific starter sophomore Cassidy Gustafson (2-9) and Bears' starter Stephanie Trzcinski (15-3) locked horns and each pitcher twirled a scoreless frame for the first two frames.  Trzcinski allowed a pair of two-out base runners on a walk to sophomore Toni Santos and a single from junior Sara Anderson in the top of the third, but stranded a pair, keeping the Tigers off the scoreboard in the frame.

In a game seemingly destined for an epic pitchers duel, Cal put a run on the scoreboard first in the bottom of the inning as a leadoff single from Vanessa Alvarez and a walk to Danielle Henderson put runners on the corners for Kobie Pettis, who singled to left field to give the hosts an early 1-0 lead. Pacific responded almost immediately, as Gustafson helped her own cause, launching a shot down the left field line with one out in the fourth inning.

Cal struck back with a leadoff homer from Breana Kostreba and capped a three run rally with a two-RBI single from Britt Vonk to go ahead 4-1 in the bottom of the fourth inning. Trzcinski shut the Tigers down in order in the fifth before Katie Sutherland-Finch pitched a perfect sixth and seventh, finishing a combined two-hit shutout with three perfect frames, sealing her fourth save and the 15th win of the season for Trzcinski.

Gustafson, in her first starting assignment since April 10th at BYU, pitched four innings, striking out three while walking three and allowing seven hits. Sophomore Carly Mortensen excelled in relief of Gustafson to begin the bottom of the fifth inning, keeping the Bears at bay with two scoreless innings, allowing just one baserunner, a walk to Alleah Laxamana.

The Tigers will now return to Bill Simoni Field on Saturday for the final non-conference contest of the year, as Fresno State travels to Stockton for a 2:00 pm tilt.

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