STOCKTON, Calif. – Despite a late-inning rally, the Pacific softball team dropped a 6-3 West Coast Conference decision against San Diego Friday evening at Bill Simoni Field.
 
Carly Lucchetti and Rian Dirmeyer provided the offense for the Tigers (11-27, 1-3), hitting back-to-back home runs in the bottom of the seventh inning. Trailing the Toreros (18-25, 3-1), 6-0, entering the final frame, Lucchetti recorded her first home run of the season, a two-run shot over the right-field fence to get the Tigers on the board. With her first home run since March 6, 2021, at UC Davis, the senior from Linden, Calif., has increased her career total to three, and after recording two hits tonight, she continues to lead the team in with a .362 batting average.
 
Dirmeyer followed with her team-leading seventh home run of the season, a solo blast, to cut the deficit in half. Dirmeyer continues to be a force at the plate, tallying a hit in 28 of the 38 games played this season, and is tied with Macey Simmons of BYU and Georgia Blair of Loyola Marymount for third in the West Coast Conference in home runs.
 
In the second inning, Avery Croxall entered the circle and pitched 3.2 innings, allowing two runs on three hits. Croxall, who has improved throughout the season, tallied two strikeouts in her outing, increasing her season total to 25.
 
"Avery [Croxall] did a tremendous job in the middle of the game," Head Coach Brian Kolze stated regarding his relief pitcher. "She came in with a lot of pressure, threw a lot of strikes, and did a great job challenging the hitters."
 
Pacific returns to action on Saturday, April 16, as the Tigers face off against San Diego in a West Coast Conference doubleheader at Bill Simoni Field starting at 11 a.m.