Seattle - In the opening contest of the 2016 Husky Classic at the University of Washington, the Pacific Softball team held on for a 4-3 win, fending off a late Boise State rally in the final inning of the contest. Sydney Lahners provided a boost for the Orange and Black, with a three-run homer in the top of the third frame. Pacific improves to 8-8 with the victory while Boise State falls to 3-12 on the year.

After Pacific starter Cassidy Gustafson and Boise State hurler Jenna Bassler (0-6) both had perfect frames in the first, the Tigers got on the scoreboard first in the top of the second inning. After a dropped foul ball by catcher Morgan Lamb, Lahners powered a double into the right center field gap after working the count to 3-2. The next hitter, catcher Rachel Sellers, doubled to left center, plating Lahners for the first run of the contest.

Gustafson worked around a pair of base runners in the bottom of the inning, including a runner on third base, and Pacific went back to work in the top of the third. With one out, Haylee Moran-Rowen drew a walk and Nicole Zapotoczny reached on an infield single, putting runners on the corners.

Lahners, playing in the same stadium in which her older sister in as a member of the Huskies, launched a homer to left field, giving Pacific a 4-0 advantage early in the contest. Sellers followed with her second double of the contest, but Molly Bourne lined sharply into a double play, ending the inning against new pitcher Nicole Wilson.

Gustafson had a scoreless third and Wilson followed suit in the top of the fourth. Gustafson got into trouble in the bottom of the fourth inning as Teauna Hughes and Corey Hendrickson reached on consecutive singles. With one out, Makenzie Sullivan tripled to right center, plating both runners and cutting the Pacific advantage to 4-2. After Rebekah Cervantes walked, the Tigers went to the bullpen summoning Megan Walters (1-2) as Gustafson went to third base. Walters calmed down the Boise bats, inducing a grounder off the bat of ShaeLee Pearson to end the inning.

Walters and Wilson swapped scoreless frames in the fifth and sixth and Wilson shut the Tigers down in order in the seventh as Walters stepped in the circle looking to finish off the contest. Pacific immediately got a quick out as Walters snagged a liner back to the circle, but pinch hitter Izzy Serrano walked and Kayla Clausen doubled to put two runners into scoring position. The next hitter, Hughes, singled down the left field line to cut the visitor advantage to just 4-3.  Hendrickson then walked to load the bases, which proved to be a crucial moment for the Tigers. Lamb stepped up with the winning run in scoring position but tapped it back to Walters in the circle, who found Sellers for the force at home. Sellers threw to Lahners at first, completing the 1-2-3 double play and allowing Pacific to escape with victory.

Sellers had a three-hit contest, the first for a Tiger hitter this season. Sellers recorded her fifth multi-RBI game this season, which leads the squad.

Pacific will return to action this morning against Montana as the Husky Classic continues. No live stats are available but fans can follow the action via @PacificSoftball on twitter.  

For the latest on the Pacific Softball team, fans are encouraged to follow @PacificSoftball on Twitter and Instagram.