RIVERSIDE, Calif. -- Taking the field for the first time this season, the Pacific softball team fell to Portland State, 14-3, in five innings Friday afternoon in the Tigers' opening game of the Lynn Russell Miller Classic at the Amy S. Harrison Field.
 
The Tigers (0-1) jumped out to a fast start, taking a 3-0 lead in the top half of the first inning. Emily Budelli began the game with a lead-off walk and quickly tallied her first collegiate stolen base. Rian Dirmeyer followed and punched an RBI single to center field with one out recorded in the inning, scoring Budelli. Shortly after, Reagan Hamilton extended the lead and ripped a two-RBI double to the left-field wall, scoring Dirmeyer and Carly Lucchetti.
 
The Vikings (2-0) began to rally in the bottom half of the first inning and quickly cut into the deficit. Natalia Martinez got the Vikings on the board first, tallying an RBI single to center field with two on and no outs. Emily Johansen recorded an RBI fly-out the next at-bat to cut the Tigers' lead to 3-2.
 
The Vikings held the Tigers scoreless throughout the rest of the game and scored 12 unanswered runs in the next four innings to solidify the win.
 
"The score isn't indicative of everything," Head Coach Brian Kolze stated after the game. "Though we lost, I think we all learned a lot about where we have to adjust to becoming more consistent and successful."
 
Pacific returns to the field tomorrow, Saturday, Feb. 12, as the Tigers compete in two games, facing off against Portland State for a second time at 9 a.m. and Utah Valley at 11:30 a.m.