RIVERSIDE, Calif. -- The Pacific softball team collected its first win of the 2022 season as the Tigers earned a split against Portland State and Utah Valley Saturday afternoon at the Lynn Russell Miller Classic.
 
Pacific 6, Portland State 5 (eight innings)
 
After a scoreless first inning, the Tigers (1-2) fell behind as the Vikings (2-1) scored runs in the second and fifth innings to grab a 3-0 lead. The Tigers, however, rallied and took the lead in the bottom half of the fifth inning. Vanessa Strong, who earned the starting nod in the circle, began the inning with a single to right field. Kyla Eck followed suit and singled to right field, putting Strong into scoring position. After a flyout by Marissa Fabian, moving the runners over, Natalie Linker cut the deficit to 3-1 as Strong scored on an RBI groundout.
 
The Tigers added four more runs in the bottom half of the fifth inning, as Emily Budelli continued the rally with an RBI single to cut the lead to 3-2. Shortly after, Rian Dirmeyer gave the Tigers the lead as the sophomore powered a three-run home run over the right-field fence to give the Tigers a 5-3 advantage.
 
After the Vikings tied the game at five in the seventh inning, Carly Lucchetti's RBI single scored Delaney Scully from third base to earn the victory in the bottom half of the eighth inning.
 
Utah Valley 8, Pacific 3
 
In the second game, the Tigers gained an early advantage, scoring two runs in the first inning to take an early lead. Dirmeyer tallied her second home run of the day, sending a two-run shot over the fence to give the Tigers a 2-0 lead.
 
The Wolverines (1-2) scored a run in the next five innings, highlighted by a four-run fifth inning to take an 8-2 lead heading into the final frame. A rally ensued as Eck tallied an RBI single to cut the lead to 8-3. The Tigers could not complete the comeback as Dirmeyer was thrown out at the plate for the final out of the game.
 
Pacific returns to action Sunday, Feb. 13, as the Tigers play in the final day of the Lynn Russell Miller Classic, squaring off against Utah Valley and UC Riverside.