Baton Rouge, La. - In the nightcap of the second day of the Tiger Classic, the Pacific softball team silenced 2,116 fans with a thrilling 2-1 victory over the #3 LSU Tigers, thanks in part to a commanding performance by junior pitcher Cassidy Gustafson (2-0), who went the distance for the monumental win, notching a complete-game, five hit effort with three strikeouts and logging 133 pitches along the way. Pacific improves to 3-1 with the victory, while LSU falls to the same mark.


Sophomore Sydney Lahners helped key the effort offensively with a two-hit, one-RBI performance, including the opening salvo of the game, giving the Orange and Black an early lead. After senior Sara Anderson led off the contest with a single down the left field line, sophomore Molly Bournereached on a fielder's choice, aided by a fielding error by the shortstop Bianka Bell. With one out, Sydney Lahners roped a double into left center field, bouncing over the fence for a ground-rule double, scoring Anderson.

The bottom of the first inning represented a major turning point in the contest for the Tigers, setting the tone for the rest of the evening. Bailey Landry walked to open the frame and Emily Griggs laid down a bunt single ahead of a Sahvanna Jaquish single up the middle. LSU Head Coach Beth Torina held the runners, loading the bases with no pout. Gustafson then induced a grounder from Bell, completing a 1-2-3 double play. After Kellsi Kloss drew a walk, Gustafson got yet another grounder off the bat of Sandra Simmons to end the threat.

In the second inning, Pacific threatened again. Senior Melanie Habib was hit by an errant pitch from Manteca product Allie Walljasper (0-1) and Anderson punched in her second single of the contest, but the pair were stranded after Walljasper induced a ground ball off the bat of sophomore Molly Bourne.

Watch Pacific take on UCLA, New Mexico, George Washington, and Bethune Cookman at the Mary Nutter Classic LIVE on FloSoftball

Photo: Pacific Athletics

Gustafson responded with a perfect frame in the bottom of the inning before the Tigers again stranded a pair in the third. A 1-2-3 inning by Gustafson got the Pacific bats back in the dugout, ready to attack yet again. With two outs, Anderson reached base for the third time on a fielding error by Taylor Satchell. The next hitter, Bourne, reached on an infield single and senior Nicole Zapotoczny, the offensive catalyst thus far for the Orange and Black, poked a single over the head of the shortstop Bell. Anderson charged hard from second base, hustling to meet the throw at home plate. Anderson appeared to be out at the plate, but Jaquish couldn't hold on to the softball, allowing Anderson to make a heads-up tag of home for the 2-0 lead.

The bottom of the fourth saw LSU get a run back as Sandra Simmons walked with one out and Walljasper singled through the left side. After Gustafson got Alayna Falcon to swing at strike three, Shemiah Sanchez singled to center to score Simmons and the scoreline stood at 2-1 in favor of Pacific. Gustafson limited the damage, coaxing Landry into a ground ball to second base to end the inning. Gustafson and Walljasper swapped scoreless innings in the fifth and sixth, with Gustafson working around a pair of walks in the bottom of the sixth. New pitcher Carly Hoover struck out the side in the top of the seventh, setting the stage for Gustafson to finish the effort in the bottom of the frame.

Photo: LSU Tigers

Emily Griggs grounded a chopper back to Gustafson for the first out of the inning, but Sahvanna Jaquish singled up the middle after a battle, advancing to second on a wild pitch. Bianka Bell grounded to Habib to put Pacific one out away, but Kloss drew a walk, leading a a tense finish. Simmons stepped to the plate and took a first pitch strike from Gustafson, swinging at the next effort and grounding out to shortstop, sending the Pacific defense and bench into a frenzy.

The win represented the highest ranked opponent that Pacific has defeated since a 2-1 home victory over No. 3 California on March 9th, 2004. Last season, Pacific took down No. 9 Baylor at the Judi Garman Classic in Fullerton, Calif.  LSU started 25-0 last season and finished at a 52-14 mark. Tonight, Pacific handed the Bayou Bengals their 100th non-conference loss in program history and just their 48th loss at Tiger Park.

Head Coach Brian Kolze said of his team's effort tonight,

I'm very proud of the team. They played at a very high level in a very difficult environment. All the praise goes to them. This is a great signature win for the beginning of our season.

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He continued, "Cassidy pitched extremely well, even with the walks, and the defense was superb. Our hitting did a great job tonight, much better than the two runs indicate. " Pacific will face off with LSU again today, at 9:30 am PT as the Tiger Classic concludes. 



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