Photo by: Tony Leon/ActionWestPhotography.com
WHITTIER, Calif. – The Whittier College softball team saw their comebacks fall short in both games of their doubleheader against Chapman University Friday afternoon.
The second game was able to get through five innings with the score 4-3 in favor of Chapman and due to darkness the game had to be called but since the game reached the five inning mark it counted as a victory for Chapman.
After completing one game the Poets falls to 7-2, 3-2 SCIAC, while Chapman improves to 9-1, 7-1 SCIAC.
Game 1 (L, 12-8)
In a game that lasted over two and a half hours, the Whittier College Poets were unable to complete their comeback as the Panthers secured the four run victory after leading by nine midway through.
Junior Courtney DeLano got the start on the mound for the Purple & Gold but only survived three innings picking up her first loss of 2013 giving up nine runs on eight hits, which included three home runs. Chapman jumped ahead in the first receiving a two run shot from Stephanie En but saw the Poets answer with their own two spot in the bottom half of the second thanks to a two out two run double to right center from Alexandra Flores that drove in Alyse Gutierrez and Mercedez Cundiff.
The Panthers however would jump start their offense once again combining for ten runs in the 3rd and 4th innings that extended their lead to 10-6. During this two inning span, the Poets continued to scrap plating four themselves. One came in the 3rd when Delano singled up the middle driving in Mickala Gonzales. They would then add a three spot in the ensuing inning after Chapman gathered two errors.
Only down six, the Poets continued to fight adding two more runs in the 5th thanks to a Gutierrez two run homer to left that pulled the Poets within four but that would be the only offense they would gather over the next two innings against Natalie Both.
Flores who continues to swing a hot bat finished 3-4 with a run and two RBI's, while Gutierrez finished 2-4 with two runs scored and two runs batted in.
Game 2 (L, CU – 4, WC – 3)
After a long first game the Poets had a short turnaround time to try and get in as many innings as possible in game two before it got dark. Both started for Chapman and held the Poets scoreless over the first four innings but was hit hard in the 5th when she gave up three runs on four hits.
Chapman faced senior Jessica Rosnack who pitched an inning in the first game and she threw well despite giving up four runs on six hits as she earned her second loss on the season. The Panthers got the scoring started first when Jenny Richard scored on a passed ball followed by a single from Stephanie En that drove in Jojo Wakabayashi.
They then added runs in the 3rd and 5th to extend their lead to 4-0 but the Poets mounted their comeback. Gutierrez singled up the middle to center and advanced on a passed ball. She then advanced to third after Flores singled up the middle. Flores then stole second and due to a throw down it allowed Gutierrez to score from third. In the ensuing at bat, Emi Shimamoto poked one into left that moved Flores over to third and a batter later sophomore catcher Samantha Mellano dribbled one up the middle that plated Flores.
After a Gonzales walk that loaded the bases, Xzandra Miranda-Castro struck out and was followed by a foul out to left from Jordan Learn that scored Shimamoto that pulled Whittier within one at 4-3. With the tying run on second, Danielle Santoro pinched hit for Ashlyn Canchola and went down swinging stopping the Poet rally short.
The Poets return to action when they host Redlands next Saturday, March 9 with game times set for 12:00pm and 2:00pm.
