STOCKTON, Calif. – The Pacific softball team, playing its final non-conference game before starting West Coast Conference action, hosts San Jose State on Thursday, April 7, at Bill Simoni Field.
Pacific earned a come-from-behind victory over Northern Colorado in the series finale on April 3, outscoring the Bears 4-1 in the final four innings to earn its ninth win of the season. Trailing 7-4 in the fourth inning, the Tigers scored two runs in the bottom of the fourth and sixth innings, solidifying the most significant comeback win of the season.
Rian Dirmeyer and Delaney Scully provided an offensive spark during the game, tallying seven of the team's 10 hits. The duo also combined for five of the eight runs scored, with Dirmeyer recording a season-high four runs. Scully recorded her first career three-hit game, went three-for-three, collected her sixth extra-base hit of the season, and tallied an RBI.
Dirmeyer, the reigning West Coast Conference Player of the Week, tallied five hits during the three-game series against the Bears and now leads the team with a .363 batting average. The sophomore from Phoenix, Ariz., was crucial for the team as she powered her team-leading sixth home run of the season, a two-run shot in the fourth inning to begin the comeback efforts. Dirmeyer also plated the game-winning run in the sixth inning on a Bethany Hammer sacrifice bunt.
San Jose State is coming off a three-game series against Mountain West Conference foe Fresno State, falling in two of the three contests. The Spartans currently have a 17-16 record, their highest win total since the 2020 season, and sit in fifth place in the conference standings.
Jenessa Ullegue leads the Spartans with a .393 batting average which ranks 11th best in the Mountain West. Along with Ullegue, the Spartans have three other members batting over .300. Alyssa Graham, who has accumulated a .375 batting average, leads the team with a .608 slugging percentage. In contrast, Trenity Edwards has recorded a .333 batting average and is second on the team with 33 hits. Ashley Rico rounds out the team leaders with a .302 batting average and has tallied 26 hits in 29 games.
Thursday's contest will be the 69th meeting between the two programs, dating back to the 1978 season. The Tigers hold a narrow advantage in the all-time series, accumulating a slim 34-33-1 record against the Spartans, with the lone tie coming on May 3, 1991. The Tigers have been victorious on the field against the Spartans in recent history, earning 10 wins over the past 12 seasons, including earning four-straight wins from April 8, 2010, to March 6, 2013.
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