Photo by: Tony Leon/ActionWestPhotography.com

WHITTIER, Calif. – The Whittier softball team overcame four errors in Game 1 and needed only five innings in Game 2 as it swept Pomona-Pitzer, 6-5 and 10-2, Sunday afternoon at Palmer Field.

Mickala Gonzales gave Whittier a one-run lead in the first game with a towering three-run homerun to left center. Gonzales' shot, which bounced off the top of the scoreboard, scored Molly Yriarte and Courtney DeLano and put starting pitcher Heather Dady in line for the win.

Dady struggled early in earning her second win of the season but settled down after allowing four runs on three hits in the Sagehens' first at bat.

Whittier got three runs back in the home half of the first with Janae Townsend picking up a pair of RBIs on a single to right field. Jennifer Luders drove in the first run of the inning on a fielder's choice.

The Sagehens threatened in the second and loaded the bases with no outs but consecutive plays at the plate and a strikeout ended the inning and left the Poets within one run.

Pomona-Pitzer added one run in the third but it wasn't enough to keep Gonzales' second homerun of the season from giving Whittier the lead.

Dady finished the fourth frame and gave way to Jessica Rosnack who earned the three-inning save. Rosnack allowed just one hit with two strikeouts.

Gonzales finished 2-for-2 from the dish with two runs scored. Denisse Martinez, Yriarte and DeLano all had hits in the win.

In the second game, the two offenses that combined for 14 hits in the first outing were silenced early. Neither team had a hit in the first two innings but the Sagehens broke through in the third, plating the game's first run on an infield single.

After the Poets went down in order in the home half of the inning, the Sagehens tacked on another run in the fourth on a solo homerun.

Facing a 2-0 deficit, the bats for the purple and gold came alive to the tune of a seven-run inning. Back-to-back walks by Yriarte and DeLano opened the stanza and a single by Jennifer Luders loaded the bases with no outs.

Two batters later, Cindy Loza hit an RBI-single to left field and in the ensuing at bat, Brenda Thompson scored two more with a single to center field.

Ashley Perez kept the pressure on with a bunt single and Martinez cleared the bases with a three-RBI double down the left field line.

Whittier left two runners on base in the fourth and the 'run-rule' run in the one deck circle but the purple and gold ended the game early with three more runs in the fifth.

Luders opened the inning with single and a double by Townsend by two runners in scoring position.  Loza scored both Luders and Townsend with a single up the middle and control issues saw Pomona-Pitzer walk in the game ending run on four pitches.

DeLano drew the bases loaded walk.

Rosnack went 5.0 innings and allowed two runs with one strikeout.

Perez, Loza and Luders each had two hits in Game 2.

The Poets return to action on Friday, February 25, as they host Howard Payne at 1 pm and 3 pm.