Baton Rouge, La. - The Pacific softball team opened up the 2016 campaign on Friday, splitting the day at the Tiger Classic on the Louisiana State University campus. The Tigers picked up the win in the second game of the day, besting Connecticut 3-0 behind junior Cassidy Gustafson (1-0), who recorded her first career seven-inning shutout. In the first game of the day, Pacific fell 4-2 to Ohio State despite recording the first run of the contest. The Tigers sit at 1-1 after one day of competition in the Bayou State.

Game 2

The Tigers provided Gustafson with all the run support she would need before one out in the top of the first frame. Senior Sara Anderson led off the contest coxing a walk from UConn's Chelsea Eckert (0-1) and junior Toni Santos followed with a single up the middle, advancing Anderson into scoring position. Sophomore Molly Bourne followed with a walk and Rachel Sellers walked with the bases loaded and one out to plate the opening run of the contest. After UConn went to the bullpen, summoning Kayla Doty, sophomore Sydney Lahners got enough of a fly ball to record a sacrifice fly to cap the opening salvo and give Pacific a 2-0 cushion.

In the 5th, the Tigers extended their lead to 3-0 after Haylee Moran-Rowen punched a single to left center field ahead of an Anderson walk. The next hitter, Santos, reached on a fielding error by Dominique Pinto, allowing Moran-Rowen to come home for a crucial insurance run.

Gustafson scattered seven hits over her seven scoreless frames, fighting through a bases-loaded situation in the bottom of the second inning unscathed thanks to strong infield defense.

The Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif. product would not allow another runner to reach third base until the sixth inning. With two outs, Pinto doubled to left center field, but pinch-runner Ally Hernandez was out at home attempting to score on a grounder to shortstop off the bat of Jacklyn Dubois. Senior Melanie Habib, Lahners and Sellers connected to keep the Huskies off the scoreboard.

In total, Gustafson finished with four strikeouts against just one walk, registering her first seven inning shutout, adding to two run-rule shortened gems in 2015.

Game 1

In the first contest of the season, Pacific opened up the scoring using a familiar formula against Buckeyes starter Morgan Ray. Leading off the top of the second inning, senior Nicole Zapotoczny doubled to left center and immediately advanced to third on an illegal pitch. After Sellers walked to put runners on the corners, Gustafson proved her mettle at the plate with an RBI single, forcing Ohio State to make a move to the bullpen for junior Shelby Hursh. After a Lahners sacrifice bunt put two runners in scoring position, Hursh got seniors Taylor Brink and Habib looking to end the threat.

In the bottom of the frame, the Buckeyes got to Pacific starter sophomore Marissa Young (0-1) after two were out. Ashley Goodwin singled up the middle and Alex Bayne followed with a double to right center, leveling the contest at 1-1. Brianna Betschel reached on a fielding error, scoring Bayne and giving Ohio State a 2-1 advantage.

Young got into a jam in the fourth as an infield single, a walk and a bunt single loaded the bases with just one out. Pacific summoned sophomore Megan Walters from the bullpen and Ohio State used soft singles from Taylor White and Maddy McIntyre to take a 4-1 lead.

In the top of the fifth, Pacific got a run back as a two-out infield single off the bat of Habib and a single through the right side by Anderson led to a run.

The Tigers had a scoring chance in the top of the sixth after Zapotoczny singled with one out and Sellers was hit by a pitch, but after a Gustafson sacrifice bunt, Lahners flew out to left field to end the threat.

Young allowed five hits and three earned runs, with three walks against one strikeout. Walters finished the contest with 2.2 innings of relief, allowing no earned runs and walking a batter.

For the Buckeyes, who came into the contest receiving votes in the NFCA Preseason Poll, Shelby Hursh (1-0) picked up the win with six innings of scoreless relief, allowing one run on three hits while striking out five, keeping the Tiger hitters at Bay for the majority of the contest.

Pacific is back at the Tiger Classic tomorrow with match-ups against North Florida (11:30 am) and the host Tigers (5:30 pm). The game with No. 3 LSU will be televised via SEC Network +, a service of WatchESPN. Viewers must have access to SEC Network through their broadband provider in order to view the contest. Fans are encouraged to check PacificTigers.com for live stats and streaming links.

For the latest on the Pacific Softball program, be sure to follow @PacificSoftball on Twitter and Instagram.