Stockton, Calif. - Despite taking an early lead thanks to a Rachel Sellers solo homer, the Pacific Softball team was defeated by California by a final score of 9-1 in five innings of play. Pacific struck for seven hits, but struggled to contain a California offense that tallied 14. Pacific sits at 19-26 after the non-conference loss while Cal is now 29-18-1 with the road victory.

Sellers led off the second inning with Sellers' shot to straight away center field, going ahead 1-0 against Katie Sutherland-Finch. Nicole Zapotoczny followed with a double to right center field and Gustafson laid down a burn single to put runners on the corners. Sutherland-Finch was able to work out of trouble, retiring the rest of the side in order to trail just 1-0.

Cal took the lead at 2-1 against Marissa Young (8-8) in the third inning. Lindsay Rood sin fled to center field and stole second ahead of Annie Aldrete's home run to left field that made the score 2-1 in favor of the Golden Bears.  Young recovered, allowing just the two-run blast in the frame.

Melanie Habib poked a one-out hit into right field with one out in the bottom of the third, prompting Cal to go to the bullpen for Nisa Ontiveros. Ontiveros immediately walked the first batter she faced, Sydnet Lahners, but induced a fly out from Sellers and struck out Zapotoczny to end the inning.

With one out in the top of the fourth, Taurie Pogue singled through the left side, with two out, Krysten McCue walked before Jazmyn Jackson and Kylie Reed delivered consecutive RBI singles to stretch the lead to 4-1 in favor of the visitors. Megan Walters was summoned from the bullpen and the sophomore struck out Aldrete with the bases loaded to end the threat, limiting the damage and giving Pacific a chance at striking back.

Ontiveros allowed a Gustafson single to lead off the fourth inning, but retired the Tigers before the Cal offense went back to work, posting a five-run frame that included six singles and five runs off of Walters, stretching the advantage to 9-1.

Pacific looked to extend the contest in the bottom of the fifth as Habib and Lahners reached on consecutive singles with one out, but Ontiveros induced fly outs from Sellers and Zapotoczny to end the contest, securing her 14th win of the season.

For Pacific, Habib had a pair of singles in her final home game at Bill Simoni Field, while Cassid Gustafson also had two singles. Zapotoczny roped a double in her final home contest, pulling into a three-way tie for eighth all time in doubles at Pacific.

Young struck out two and walked two, allowing four earned runs in her 3.2 innings of work. Walters struck out one and hit a batter in her 1.1 innings of work.

The Tigers will be back in action next Thursday, May 12th, at Loyola Marymount, as a three-game series concludes the season for the Orange and Black. Game times for the midweek doubleheader are slated for 12:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. - Live stats for both contests will be available via PacificTigers.com

Fans are encouraged to follow @PacificSoftball on Twitter and Instagram for the latest on the Pacific Softball program.