WHITTIER, Calif. – The Whittier College
softball team officially clinched a spot in the Southern California
Intercollegiate Athletic Conference postseason tournament as it
split its double header with Cal Lutheran on Saturday afternoon to
push its conference record to an even 10-10.
Whittier (19-16, 10-10 SCIAC) scored three runs in the bottom of
the first to answer a solo homerun by the Regals to start the game.
Kellie Canida continued to swing a hot bat as
she led off the home half of the first with a triple. After a
ground out to the pitcher, Mary Pacheco drew a
walk and then stole second to put runners on second and third with
one out. Amanda Carrasco took four balls to load
the bags and Janae Townsend cleared the bags with
a two-RBI double. All three runners scored as an error allowed
Carrasco to cross home plate.
Townsend was left stranded but Whittier was able to take a 3-1
lead.
The Poets struck again in the bottom of the third, this time
with two runs to take a 5-1 lead. Cynthia Loza
pinch hit with a runner on and two outs and blasted a homerun to
center field to score Kelli Miyahira.
Whittier got out of a jam in the top of the fourth as the Regals
left three runs on base and then tacked two more runs on the board
behind a two-run homerun by Molly Yriarte. Cal
Lutheran made pulled within three with a three-run, five-hit, sixth
but that was as close as CLU would get. The Poets had only seven
hits to CLU's 11 but still managed the 7-4 win.
All seven hits came from different bats.
Heather Dady earned the win in the circle. She
went 5.1 innings and allowed nine hits and four runs. Erica
Zamora closed the door on the Regals pitching the final
1.2 innings and giving up just two hits.
The Poets struck first in the second game as well. Pacheco hit
an RBI-single up the middle to score Canida who led off the inning
with a double. The Poets left two runners on but led 1-0 after one.
Cal Lutheran answered in its first at bat of the second with a solo
homerun and after Carrasco singled home Brenda
Thompson in the third, the Regals pushed four runs across
in the fourth to take a 5-2 lead.
Whittier trimmed the lead to 5-3 with a run in the home half of
the fourth but that was as close as the Poets would get. The purple
and gold had its chances as they had the bases loaded in the sixth
but couldn't score a run.
Canida, Thompson and Ashley Perez each had two
hits in the loss.
Dady started and suffered the loss in 3.1 innings of work. She
allowed five runs (three earned) on four hits.
The Poets return to the diamond Friday afternoon for a twin bill
against La Verne at 2 and 4 pm at Palmer Field.
