FRESNO, Calif. - The 2021 season opened for the University of the Pacific Softball team on Friday, participating in the Fresno State Kickoff Classic. The Tigers were swept in a doubleheader against the host Bulldogs. Pacific lost in five innings by run rule, 9-0 in the opener, and fell short in the second game, 4-3. 

GAME ONE SUMMARY

Fresno State 9, Pacific 0 (5 innings)

A pair of wild pitches with runners on third base in the first inning put Fresno State ahead 2-0. 

The second inning did not start any better for the Tigers. Lexie Webb and Keahilele Mattson led off the bottom of the second with back-to-back home runs, as the Bulldogs led 4-0. 

For the second consecutive inning, Fresno State led off with a solo home run, which was off the bat of Kelcey Carrasco. 

Haley Dolcini retired the first 11 batters she faced, with nine strikeouts. The first hit of the season for Pacific came in the top of the fourth inning with two outs, as Madison Kahwaty singled to left field. After Kahwaty's single, Hanna Krosky followed up with a single, but the side was retired on the same play when Kahwaty was out at third base. 

The leadoff home runs continued in the bottom of the fourth, as Mattson launched her second home run of the game for a 6-0 lead. The Bulldogs added three more runs in the inning, all without a hit contributing to the scoring.   

Dolcini allowed one more hit to the Tigers in the fifth inning, but retired three more batters, as Fresno State won the opener 9-0 by run rule

GAME TWO SUMMARY

Fresno State 4, Pacific 3

The Bulldogs took a quick 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first on an RBI single from Alesia Denby, as Miranda Rohleder scored the first run of the game. 

In the top of the second, the Tigers loaded the bases with no outs, as Caitlyn Sung drew a walk to lead off the inning, Carly Lucchetti singled to center field and Madeline Domingo reached on an error. The Tigers tied the game at 1-1 when Rian Dirmeyer hit an RBI single, driving in Sung. 

Although a fielder's choice out was made at home plate on the next at-bat, the bases were still loaded, as Jessica Mabrey capitalized with an RBI single, as Domingo scored the go-ahead run. 

After Mabrey's single, Myka Sutherlin reached base on a hit-by-pitch, with the bases loaded, as Dirmeyer scored to give Pacific a 3-1 lead. 

Fresno State would tie the game in the bottom of the third. With two runners on base, Mattson hit an infield single. then an error that followed allowed two runs to score to even the game at 3-3. 

The Bulldogs took a 4-3 lead in the bottom of the fourth, on an RBI double from Carrasco that drove in Kaitlyn Jennings. 

Although Pacific had an opportunity to regain the lead in the top of the fifth with two runners in scoring position with one out, Dolcini entered the game in relief and retired the final eight batters, as Fresno State won game two, 4-3. 

NOTABLE STATS

• Lucchetti finished the day going 2-for-5.
• Also with multiple hits on the day was Dirmeyer. 
• In game one, in a relief appearance, Avery Croxall had a pair of strikeouts. 
• Bethany Hammer, who started in the circle in game two, had a pair of strikeouts as well. 
• For Fresno State, Dolcini pitched a total of 7.2 innings with 12 strikeouts while facing 25 batters. 

UP NEXT

Action in the Fresno State Kickoff Classic for the Tigers continues Saturday, with a doubleheader against UC Santa Barbara. Game one from Margie Wright Diamond is set for 1 p.m., followed by game two at 3:30 p.m.

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