WHITTIER, Calif. – The Whittier softball team suffered a doubleheader sweep to La Verne on Friday afternoon as the Leopards completed the regular-season sweep of the Poets.

Despite dropping a pair of games to La Verne, the Whittier softball team officially clinched a spot in the SCIAC Postseason Tournament because of Redlands' sweep of Occidental.

Whittier (23-13, 11-9 SCIAC) was plagued by the bat of Raven Freret who combined to drive in 12 runs in the two games. Freret blasted a grand slam in each game and added a three-run homerun in the second game.

The Poets trailed 2-1 after two innings in the first game before Freret cleared the bases with a round tripper. Whittier got as close a 6-3 after scoring one run in each the fourth and fifth innings but the Leopards added four more in the sixth to put the game out of reach.

Ashley Perez, Molly Yriarte and Janae Townsend all had two hits in the loss.

Yriarte plated Whittier's first run of the game on an RBI-single in the first, an error allowed Townsend to score in the fourth and an RBI-fielder's choice pulled the purple and gold within three with two innings to play.

Heather Dady got the start in the circle at went 5.2 innings. She allowed 10 runs on nine hits with three strikeouts and three walks. Courtney DeLano tossed the final 1.1 innings and gave up one hit.

In the second game, Mickala Gonzales blasted her team leading 12th homerun of the season in the first inning to give WC an early 3-1 lead. However, the lead would be short lived as Freret picked up four RBIs with a homerun to center field.

La Verne scored 11 straight runs after trailing 3-1 and held a 12-3 lead through five and a half innings. Whittier was threatened with the run-rule but scored three runs in the home half of the sixth to extend the game.

The inning opened with three straight singles, with the last scoring Taylor Pilkenton. A double steal pushed the second run of the inning across the plate and a Denisse Martinez sacrifice fly made the score 12-6.

Whittier used three arms in the night cap and it was Jessica Rosnack who suffered the loss. She three 3.0 innings and allowed six runs (five earned) on five hits. DeLano lasted 2.1 innings and allowed six of her own runs (five earned) on five hits while Dady ended the game with 1.2 scoreless innings.

The Poets will hit the road tomorrow morning to face Cal Lutheran at 10 am and 12 pm.

NOTES – Whittier and La Verne partnered for the fight against breast cancer…both teams wore uniforms with pink numbers and lettered…the StrikeOut Cancer event is in its 10th year and is sponsored by the National Fastpitch Association.