PHOENIX, Ariz.- The Pacific softball team scored four runs in the fifth inning to pull within one score of Montana after an early deficit, but the comeback fell short as the Grizzlies edged out the Tigers 5-4 in the final day of the Purple Classic.

"Tough game today," head coach Brian Kolze said. "We gave them too many opportunities and they took advantage of it. I did really like how we fought back but we just came up short. Overall it was a really good weekend for the team as we definitely have found ways to win and work well together."
 
Senior Rian Dirmeyer and sophomore Jordan Hayes led the Tigers with one run, two hits and an RBI in four plate appearances. Sophomore Olivia Silvestre recorded a hit and a run in 3 at bats, while freshman Victoria Martinez Lloyd scored her first collegiate run this season.
 
Graduate student Vanessa Strong got started from the circle for Pacific, allowing five hits and four runs while seeing 17 batters and striking out two. Senior Avery Croxall came in for 4.1 innings and also faced 17 batters. She allowed two hits and one run while striking out four Grizzlies.
 
Juniors Delaney Scully and Nina Davis combined for ten putouts. Dirmeyer led with three assists, while adding a putout. 
 
Montana opened the day with three runs at the top of the second inning putting the Tigers in an early deficit. The Grizzlies added two runs between the subsequent innings before the Tigers held them scoreless through the remainder of the game. Pacific attempted the comeback in a hot offensive fifth inning.
 
With two Tigers on base, Dirmeyer logged a base hit to draw in Martinez Lloyd. Scully followed up with a single of her own, bringing in Silvestre to shorten the gap. Hayes took to the plate to deliver the third base hit in a row, which allowed Dirmeyer to score. Senior Scarlett Lloyd was credited with the final RBI of the day after singling up the middle to bring in Hayes for the score.
 
While the Tigers came within one, the Grizzlies defense locked in through the last two innings, staving off Pacific's comeback.
 
The Tigers will head out to Stanford to take on the Cardinal on Wednesday, March 6 for a 4 p.m. game.
 
For all the latest on Pacific Softball be sure to follow the team on X (@PacificSoftball), Instagram (@pacificsoftball) and "like" the team's official Facebook page (Pacific Softball).
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