Stockton, Calif. - The Pacific Softball program dropped a pair of games on Friday to Brigham Young, despite homers from Rachel Sellers and Nicole Zapotoczny and an 11-strikeout effort from Marissa Young, a new career high. Pacific sits at 19-24 (2-9 WCC) after the pair of games while BYU is now 29-17 (6-2 WCC).

Game One

In game one of two, Pacific matched Cassidy Gustafson (4-6) up with McKenna Bull in the circle (22-11). After Gordy Bravo led off the contest with a double to right center, BYU pushed across a run on a wild pitch to take an early 1-0 lead.

Pacific answered in the bottom of the second as Gustafson and Haylee Moran-Rowen reached on consecutive infield singles. The latter, a bunt from Moran-Rowen, scored Gustafson as BYU made a pair of throwing errors on the play, allowing Pacific to equalize at 1-1.

BYU immediately took the lead back with a double from Lauren Bell and an RBI single from Libby Sugg. In the top of the fourth, BYU added another run on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Bell. Pacific used a walk from Sydney Lahners to set up Rachel Sellers, who hit a towering home run to center field, tying the score at 3-3.

With one down in the top of the fifth, the Cougars regained the lead with a Alexa Strid homer. Pacific would not score again in the contest, with a sacrifice fly off the bat of Bell adding an insurance run for the eventual 5-3 scoreline.

Gustafson threw a solid seven innings, striking out three, while walking five and allowing nine hits. Bull also had a complete game effort, striking out seven, walking one while scattering six hits over her seven frames.

Rachel Sellers and Gustafson each had multi-hit games for the Tigers while Strid, Caitlyn Larsen and Lexi Tarrow had multi-hit games for the visiting Cougars.

Game Two

The second contest of the day matched Marissa Young (8-7) against Bull. After Young delivered a scoreless first frame, punctuated by two strike outs, Pacific went to work against Bull. Sara Anderson led off the inning reaching on an error by Bell, and with two down, Sellers reached on a single. Nicole Zapotoczny then punched a three run homer to left field, plating 3 RBI in the process.

The home run by Zapotoczny moved the senior into the Top 5 all-time in Pacific career history. The 20th blast of her career passed Cindy Ball for sole possession of sixth place and moved the Huntington Beach, Calif. product into a tie for fifth with Adrienne Ratajczak. Gustafson singled to right field, prompting BYU to go to the bullpen, summoning Arianna Paulson. Paulson induced a pop-out from Moran-Rowen to end the inning.

After Young went 1-2-3 yet again, with another pair of strikeouts, Pacific loaded the bases against Paulson. Molly Bourne and Anderson walked ahead of Melanie Habib, who singled up the middle. Sydney Lahners then singled to left center, giving Pacific a 4-0 advantage. BYU went to the 'pen again, for Olivia Sanchez (6-6). Sanchez induced a pop out from Sellers and a groundout from Zapotoczny to end the inning.

Young breezed through the bottom of the BYU order, retiring the first nine in order before Gordy Bravo led off the top of the fourth with a single up the middle. Young struck out the side in the fifth, four her eighth strikeout, establishing a new career high.

Pacific had two runners jun scoring position in the fifth after a Gustafson double, but could not score. Young tallied her ninth strikeout of the day getting Bravo to strikeout in the bottom of the sixth, but Bell singled to center and Ashley Thompson humored to center to put BYU on the scoreboard at 4-2. Young got her 10th strikeout, getting McKenzie St. Clair looking, to end the inning.

In the seventh, after Larsen reached on an infield single, Young posted her 11th strikeout, getting Coco Bond swinging. Marissa Young's 11 strikeouts were the most for a Tiger pitcher since Tori Shepard also had 11 against Coastal Carolina on March 25th of 2011.

Tarrow reached on an infield single and Bravo posted a groundout that moved both runners into scoring position with two down. Lauren Bell stepped up to the plate and delivered a first-pitch liner into left field for a home run, giving the Cougars their first lead of the game at 5-4, down to their last out. Megan Walters spelled Young in the circle after the blast, and retired Thompson, who doubled but was thrown out stretching for third.

Sanchez induced a groundout from Sellers, but allowed a single to Zapotoczny. BYU went to the bullpen, re-inserting Bull, the game's starter, for a save attempt. Bull allowed a two-out single to Moran-Rowen, but Bourne popped out to end the contest as the visitors completed the rally.

Young pitched masterfully during her 6.2 innings of work, allowing just two walks against 11 strikeouts. She threw 121 pitches, allowing just seven hits. For Pacific, Zapotoczny, Gustafson and Anderson all had multi-hit contests. Bell and Thompson each had two-hit nights for the Cougars.

Pacific will wrap up conference home action on Sunday as the series concludes on Senior Day at Bill Simoni Field. First pitch is at 12:00 p.m. and fans are encouraged to arrive early to honor the senior class of Sara Anderson, Taylor Brink, Drew Jones, Melanie Habib and Nicole Zapotoczny. Live video and stats will also be available via PacificTigers.com.

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