LOS ANGELES – The Whittier College softball team completed the season sweep of Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference rival Occidental on Friday afternoon with a double header sweep of the Tigers. The Poets won the first game, 7-6, and needed only six innings to take the night cap, 9-1.

Whittier (18-13, 9-7 SCIAC) combined to score eight runs in the first inning which includes five in its first at bat of the first game of the afternoon. The Poets had a total of 25 hits led by Kellie Canida who had six hits in the two games.

Canida reached base safely on her first three at bats on the day. She singled to start the game, added her second single in as many plate appearances in the second inning and doubled in the fourth to finish 3-for-4 in Game 1.

Molly Yriarte scored two runs in the 7-6 and Jessica Rosnack earned the win with a 7.0-inning, nine-hit, performance. She gave up six runs with a pair of strike outs and one walk.

WC's five-run first inning was enough to hold off the Tigers. Occidental made a late charge and pulled within one run with two runs in the bottom of the seventh.

In Game 2 the Poets scored three in the first and took a 5-0 lead after a two-run fourth. Canida was once again 3-for-4 from the plate with two RBIs and two runs scored. Mary Pacheco, Amanda Carrasco, Jennifer Luders, Cynthia Loza and Ashley Perez all had two hits in the win.

Luders hit a solo homerun in her second at bat.

Heather Dady picked up the win in the circle. She allowed just one run on six hits with five strike outs.

Whittier returns to action on Friday, April 16, as it will travel to face Redlands at 2 and 4 pm.