WHITTIER, Calif. – The Whittier softball team got back on track Sunday afternoon with a doubleheader sweep of Southern California rival Chapman University, 8-3 and 11-7, at Palmer Field.

Whittier (19-11) scored seven of its eight runs in the first two innings of Game 1 but needed to rally in the second game to overcome a 7-2 deficit.

Chapman scored three runs in the first inning of the night cap and added a four spot in the second to take the five-run lead. Whittier answered with two runs in the second to trim the lead to 7-4 and scored at least one run in each of its last four at bats to claim the victory.

Mickala Gonzales blasted a two-run homerun in the second, Courtney DeLano hit a solo shot in the third and Denisse Martinez plated three runs with a three-run shot in the fourth to give Whittier an 8-7 lead.

The Poets added one run in the sixth on a single from Ashley Perez and tacked on two more in the sixth on a single from Martinez.

Martinez finished the second game with six RBIs and had a team-high three hits. Perez added two hits in the win.

Heather Dady earned the win as she tossed 5.1 innings of scoreless softball in relief. She allowed just three hits and totaled three strikeouts.

In the first game, the seven runs in the first two innings proved more than enough. The Poets used three pitchers as it was Jessica Rosnack who earned the victory. She pitched 2.0 innings and allowed just one run.

Brenda Thompson and Janae Townsend were each 4-for-4.

Whittier scored its first two runs on a two-run homerun by Gonzales in the first. In its next at bat, Nikki Mendoza scored Cindy Loza with a double, Gonzales drew a bases loaded walk, Molly Yriarte drove in Perez and Thompson with a single and Townsend scored Gonzales with a single of her own.

The Poets totaled 14 hits in the first game.

Whittier returns to action on Friday afternoon with a doubleheader at Pomona-Pitzer.