Take Me Out to the Ballgame
Photo by Miranda Duarte
Pacific’s Softball team claimed victory in their recent tournaments.
A rainout may have forced a schedule change on Opening Day, but it did not extinguish the Pacific Softball team’s fire. The Softball team has secured a roaring record of 9-8 with a new coaching staff, class, and schedule.
In July, it was announced that former Women’s College World Series participant at UCLA, Samantha Duran-Kuku, was named Head Coach of the Pacific softball program. Additionally, four-time National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) All-American and professional softball player for the Oklahoma City Spark, Keilani Ricketts Tumanuvao joins as pitching coach.
The season began with a doubleheader at Stanford Invitational on February 7, after the rain delay postponed the Opening Day to the next day. Senior Hannah Glad pitched 3.1 innings with four breaking balls, one strikeout, and only one earned run against her. Redshirt junior Olivia Silvestre homered once and secured a total of two runs batted in (RBI), but the Tigers could not capitalize and fell 2-13 to Long Beach State. In Game Two, Silvestre smashed a leadoff homer. On the defensive end, freshman Alexa Lewis recorded a season-high of 5 strikeouts and deserted 10 runners on base while senior Delaney Scully accumulated five putouts. The Tigers finished the doubleheader with a 0-2 record after falling 1-5 to Fresno State.
On February 22, the Tigers traveled to initiate their participation in the CSU Bakersfield Tournament. The first game was against the University of Montana Griz. Silvestre scored the first run for Pacific, tying the game at 1-1 in the first inning after a single to center field by Jayleen Scott. The Tigers and Griz were tied once again in the fifth inning at 3-3 after Emma Dazell scored on a second hit to right field by Scott. Following suit, Allie Capello scored on a double by Scully, and then Scully scored on a hit to center field by Jordan Hayes. The game ended with a Pacific 5-3 win.
A three-run home run by junior Amanda Bricker and a solo home run by Dazell in the fifth inning propelled the Tigers to a lead of 5-1 against CSU Bakersfield in Game Two. The Tigers ultimately fell in the seventh inning as CSUB responded with two homers of their own and a double to break the tie and push CSUB to a win of 6-5 over Pacific.
The Tigers redeemed their game in Game Three against Montana through freshman Peyton Clifford’s two stellar at-bats. She earned two runs batted in through a double in the fourth and a fly out to right field advancing senior Nina Davis to second, Scully to third, and a run by Capello. The Tigers earned a total of 9 runs to Montana’s 0 runs. Senior Desiree Smith’s five innings pitched with four strikeouts and only one hit topped off a sensational game by the Tigers.
The Game Fourfinale against CSU Bakersfield was led by Bricker and Capello earning three runs batted in each. Silvestre scored 3 runs while Bricker, Dazell, Scott, and Hayes all scored one run apiece. Pacific’s commanding 10 hits to Montana’s 4 hits were no match. The Tigers ended the tournament on a high note with a 7-2 win against Montana.
The Softball team concluded the Libby Matson tournament with a doubleheader sweep on March 2. Despite collecting early deficits in both games, Pacific contended strongly. In Game One against San Jose State,
Pacific tied up the game in the fourth inning after a single by Scully earning two runs batted in. A powerful double to left center by Silvestre brought three runs batted in, garnering a quick change of pace for a lead of 6-3 in favor of the Tigers. Sophomore Justice Alcaraz pitched a complete game striking out four, earning her a 5-2 record. The game concluded with a 7-5 win against San Jose State.
The second game against UC Riverside began with the Tigers down 0-2 in the first half of the inning. When freshman Presley Barnes stepped up to the plate, she homered, bringing three runs in on the beautiful Bill Simoni Field. Dazell homered in the fourth inning, stockpiling some insurance runs to boost the lead to 7-2. Brick homered in the sixth inning, granting the Tigers a 10-5 lead and their first double-digit score of the day. At the end of the seventh inning, the Tigers were triumphant. Silvestre's three hits meant she hit .500 at the Libby Matson and also owns a five-game streak of at least one double. With this win, freshman Kiley Shea tallied her first collegiate pitching win.
Pacific’s Softball team's last tournament of the season is the Bulldog Classic. Tickets for upcoming athletic events can be purchased through the PacificTigers.com tickets tab, or by calling the Box Office at 209-946-2474. Groups of 10 or more are eligible for a group discount and exclusive fan experiences.