San Diego Athletics

STOCKTON, Calif. — A fifth inning three-run home run launched over the right field wall from Taylor Johnson was the deciding blow to break open a tight game at Bill Simoni Field on Saturday evening, as San Diego softball (18-29, 4-10 WCC) held on to defeat Pacific (17-34, 5-12 WCC) and take game two, knotting the series at one. 

The Toreros got on the board early in the second inning — Shawnese Hogue-Lacy reached on a Pacific error, moved to third on a Michelle Delgado sacrifice bunt, before coming home on a Hailey Mulligan RBI double to right field — giving San Diego an early 1-0 advantage. Janae Combs followed immediately with another RBI double to right to push the lead to 2-0. Charlie Johnson kept Pacific off the board through the first three innings before the Tigers pulled within one with a run in the fourth. 

That's when Johnson stepped up. With Kaitlyn Wynia on second and Mallory Axline on first after a Pacific error, the senior first baseman turned on a pitch and drove it over the right field wall for a three-run home run — her sixth of the season — to put San Diego back in front 5-1. The Tigers responded in the bottom half of the frame scoring two runs, but Alex Riggs entered in relief and was dominant the rest of the way, throwing three scoreless innings to earn the save and close out the victory. 

The Toreros will be back in action tomorrow to play the rubber match of the series on Sunday afternoon, first pitch in the series finale at Bill Simoni field is set for 12:00 p.m.