WHITTIER, Calif. - The homerun was the difference in the two games between Whittier College and Pomona-Pitzer on Saturday afternoon. The Poets hit back-to-back shots in Game 1 of the softball double-header to help WC to a 4-2 win but Pomona used three homeruns in Game 2 to win 7-6 in eight innings.

Whittier (13-9, 4-6 SCIAC) did its damage in the third inning of the first game. The Poets scored four runs which includes a two-run homerun by Amanda Carrasco and a solo homerun by Vicky Ovieda on consecutive at bats.

The Sagehens (4-11, 4-5 SCIAC) walked in the final run of the inning for the Poets who led 4-0 at the end of three.

Starting pitcher Heather Dady improved to 6-1 on the year as she threw four scoreless innings. Nikole Gandara picked up only the second save of the season for the Poets in three innings of work.

Pomona threatened in the top of the seventh inning as the first three batters reached base. A double made the score 4-1 and after a sacrifice fly two batters later the Poets lead was only at 4-2.

Whittier recorded the final out of the game at home to preserve the win.

In the second game the Sagehens used the long ball to their advantage as they went deep three times which includes the game winner in the top of the eighth inning.

Pomona hit a two-run homerun in the second, a two-run homerun in the sixth and the two-run homerun in the final inning.

Whittier led through three innings, 3-2, but never saw the lead again. Pitzer tied the game, 3-3, in the fifth inning and took the lead in the top of the sixth, 5-3, before WC tied it in its half of the sixth.

The purple and gold cut the Sagehen lead to 7-6 but left the game tying run on second base.

Kellie Canida, Brenda Thompson and Ovieda all had two hits for the Poets. Thompson added her first homerun of the year.

Amanda Webster dropped the decision as she threw all eight innings for Whittier.

The Poets return to action Saturday, March 21, as they host the University of Redlands at Noon at Palmer Field.