STOCKTON, Calif. – The Pacific softball earned its second-straight victory Thursday afternoon, defeating San Jose State, 3-2, in a non-conference contest at Bill Simoni Field.
 
Trailing 1-0 early in the game, the Tigers (10-24) utilized a three-run second inning to take their first lead of the game. In the inning, the Tigers jumped all over the Spartan (17-17) starting pitcher Ashley Goard, tallying four hits, including RBI base hits from Kyla Eck and Carly Lucchetti.

With two runners on base, Eck tallied her second RBI of the season as she drove in the tying run with a single through the right side of the infield. Batting .180 on March 8, Eck has tallied a hit in nine of the last 14 games, increasing her batting average to .244, which ranks fifth-best on the team.
 
Lucchetti followed with an RBI double later in the inning as Marissa Fabian plated the go-ahead run. Pacific benefited from a defensive mishap shortly after, as San Jose State's Aubrie Thomas had an errant throw to first base, allowing Eck to tally the team's third and final run.
 
Pitching highlighted the winning efforts as Vanessa Strong earned the start and pitched three solid innings, allowing one run on three hits. The redshirt junior from Oakley, Calif., recorded five strikeouts in her 17th appearance in the circle this season, increasing her team-leading total to 61.
 
Avery Croxall was called into action in the top of the fourth inning and pitched two innings and allowed just one run on two hits. The sophomore from Pleasant Grove, Calif., earned her first win of the season as she kept the Spartans off the board while recording two strikeouts.
 
Amiyah Aponte later entered the contest, closing out the Spartans, earning her third career save as she pitched the game's final two innings and recorded two strikeouts.
 
"I think the pitchers all did an amazing job," Head Coach Brian Kolze stated. "The pitching carried us today, but I was happy when we came back and took the lead, taking the momentum back with what we did offensively … It feels good to win these close games to give this team some confidence."
 
Pacific returns to action on Saturday, April 9, as the Tigers begin West Coast Conference play, facing off against Santa Clara at Bill Simoni Field.