STOCKTON, Calif.- The Pacific softball team opened its conference season finale against Santa Clara in a rescheduled doubleheader on Friday evening. While the Tigers missed victory in game one by three runs, the Broncos stormed ahead in game two, jumping out to a 2-0 series lead after the Tigers fell 4-1 and 15-5.
 
"It's really the first time we have struggled pitching in a long time," head coach Brian Kolze shared after game two. "Santa Clara did a great job putting a lot of balls in play and really challenging us. They outhit us. I was really happy with a lot of at bats today. Talissa [Montez] had a tremendous game offensively and defensively. We had some nice defensive plays, but we can't give up that many runs, plain and simple. We had some opportunities to stop the bleeding, but we didn't make the plays. We'll see what tomorrow brings."
 
With rainfall due to arrive during Saturday's originally scheduled contest, the Tigers moved their doubleheader to Friday.
 
Sophomore Olivia Silvestre led the Tigers in game one, recording a run and a hit in three at bats. Junior Delaney Scully captured her sixth multi-hit game after notching two hits in game one. She ended the day with a combined 15 putouts. Sophomore Jordan Hayes was credited with the RBI on the lone run, drawing in Silvestre in the bottom of the first. The second baseman was one of four Tigers to record a hit.
 
Graduate student Vanessa Strong led the Tigers from the circle in game one, pitching through 6.0 innings. She faced 26 batters and struck out four, allowing eight hits and four runs. Senior Scarlett Lloyd pitched the remainder, facing three batters without allowing a hit or run.
 
Senior Rian Dirmeyer paced the team in game two with two hits and 3 RBI. The shortstop tallied her 13th two-hit game of the season, while tying a season high 3 RBI. Taking the lead for the Tigers was junior Talissa Montez, who recorded two hits, two runs and an RBI in two at bats. 
 
Silvestre scored two runs in the effort, while junior Nikki Enriquez got a hit and a run in two at bats in her start at second base. 
 
Senior Avery Croxall got the start from the circle, pitching through 4.2 innings. She faced 24 batters and struck out one, allowing seven hits and seven runs. Junior Desiree Smith came in for 1.1 innings and faced eight batters, allowing three hits and four runs. Freshman Justice Alcaraz closed the final 1.0 innings and faced 10 batters. The freshman struck out one, allowing three hits and four runs.
 
The Tigers held leads in both contests before the Broncos struck back with fervor. Santa Clara's 15 runs is tied for second most given up by the Tigers this season and the Broncos locked up their sixth win in a row over the Tigers.
 
Both teams return tomorrow for a game at Bill Simoni Field. The original start time is subject to change, all updates will be made on pacifictigers.com.
 
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).
#PacificProud