Photo by: Tony Leon/ActionWestPhotography.com

WHITTIER, Calif. – The Whittier College softball team was stunned by Sagehen pitcher Fiona Riley who quieted the Whittier bats in both games of the doubleheader picking up both wins in the 2-1 and 4-0 victories for Pomona Pitzer Saturday afternoon.

Whittier now drops to 6-8, 2-8 SCIAC, while Pomona Pitzer improves to 9-7, 6-2 SCIAC.

Game 1 (L, 2-1)

Pomona who was coming off of a series sweep of La Verne and a win against Staten Island looked to win their fourth and fifth games in a row but ran into the pitching of Courtney DeLano who pitched a spectacular game one going a complete game pitching 8.0 innings giving up two runs on three hits to go with four strikeouts during a game that took an hr. and a half the fastest game this year thus far.

On the other side of the diamond Riley pitched a complete game going 8.0 innings giving up one run on three hits to go with nine strikeouts for the Sagehens.

The Poets jumped out in front as they scored first in the third after an Emi Shimamoto single drove in Samantha Mellano who reached on a walk. 

But the next inning the Sagehens tied up the game Marcantoni homered to left.

Over the next three innings both teams were held scoreless and then in the eighth Pomona added the game winner as Tokunaga drove in Julius from third after she pinched ran for Glass. 

In the Poets half of the eighth they threatened bringing the winning run to the plate in Courtney Grana but she ended up grounding out to second to end the game.

Whittier was led by Shimamoto who finished 2-3 with an RBI.

Game 2 (L, 4-0) 

In the second game the Poet bats continued to be silenced as Riley continued to mow down the Whittier batters pitching yet again another complete game going 7.0 perfect innings giving up five hits with two strikeouts.

The Poets Jessica Rosnack started on the mound and pitched 2.0 innings of work but made one fatal error giving up a three run homer to Tokunaga in the third with two outs that opened the game up for the Sagehens. She was later taken out and Whittier's Anna Cade came in relief and pitched 3.0 innings of shutout ball giving up three hits, while freshman Heather Salisbury pitched 2.0 innings giving up a late run in the seventh that extended the Sagehen lead to four.

Whittier was unable to get any offense going all game despite two doubles from Janae Townsend and Jordan Learn but the Poets were unable to capitalize with runners in scoring position late in the game that proved to be a big factor in the loss. 

Whittier looks to bounce back as they host non conference opponent Webster on Monday, March 12 with game times slated for 1pm and 3pm.