PHOENIX, Ariz. -- The Pacific softball team, closing out the Lopes Up Classic at Grand Canyon University, dropped a 3-2 non-conference decision to Colgate Sunday morning at the GCU Softball Stadium.
 
Vanessa Strong earned the start in the circle for the Tigers (3-10), pitching five solid innings, allowing two runs on four hits, and recording four strikeouts.
 
The Raiders (8-7) jumped out to an early lead in the first inning, scoring two runs to take a 2-0 advantage. After a lead-off walk, Morgan Farrah ripped an RBI double down the left-field line, and Kara Fusco followed with an RBI later late in the inning.  
 
The Tigers, however, rallied and tied the game at two in the top half of the fifth inning. Emily Budelli led off the inning with a single, her 14th hit of the season, and scored shortly after on a Rian Dirmeyer two-run home run. Dirmeyer continues to excel at the beginning of the season, tallying a team-high four home runs and leading the team with a .617 slugging percentage.
 
The comeback fell short in the bottom of the seventh inning as the Raiders tallied the game-winning run on a Fusco RBI single.
 
"Another heartbreaking loss," Head Coach Brian Kolze stated after the game. "We just need to find a way to capitalize on some opportunities, so we have the advantage at the end of some of these close games." "I am proud of how the team is competing and displaying their competitive spirit."
 
Pacific returns to action on Wednesday, March 2, as the Tigers travel to Berkeley, Calif., to take on California in a non-conference matchup at 2 p.m.