Photo by: Tony Leon/ActionWestPhotography.com
CLAREMONT, Calif. – The Whittier College women's softball team wrapped up their season series with Claremont-M-S Saturday afternoon earning their second split with the Athena's finishing 2-2.
After the split this weekend the Poets improve to 17-7, 9-7 SCIAC and remain in 5th place in the SCIAC standings.
Earlier in the season the Poets earned a split at home with CMS and this weekend they earned their second split on the road falling 7-3 in game one before holding on for a 4-3 victory in game two.
Game 1 (L, 7-3)
CMS got the scoring started in game one adding three runs in the first two innings before the Poets tied the game up in the top half of the third. Samantha Mellano got the inning started with a single to left field, which brought around Cindy Loza. Mickala Gonzales followed with a double to left field that brought around Mellano and was followed by Xzandra Miranda-Castro who singled in Gonzales.
But this would be as close as the Whittier would get as the Athena's would regain the lead in the bottom half of the third 6-3 before adding an insurance run in the sixth helping them take the first game of the doubleheader.
Courtney DeLano was charged with the loss dropping to 8-2 on the season after going 5.1 innings giving up six runs on 11 hits. Mellano led the Poets offensively finishing 3-4 scoring a run, while adding an RBI.
Game 2 (W, 4-3)
In game two of the doubleheader the Poets found themselves down once again by three after surrendering three runs in the bottom half of the third but this time around the Poets bounced back to add four runs in the ensuing inning.
Mellano and Gonzales led off the inning with back to back singles and in an attempt to move up a base, Mellano was tagged out at third. After a wild pitch placed Gonzales on third Miranda Castro walked placing runners on the corners. Mercedez Cundiff then stepped to the dish and drove a single to left driving in Emi Shimamoto who pinched ran for Gonzales. After Jordan Learn went down on strikes DeLano singled to second base loading the bases, then with two outs Alyse Gutierrez came up and drove a double to center that cleared the bases giving the Poets a 4-3 lead.
CMS attempted to get the lead back but were shut down over the next four innings by Jessica Rosnack who picked up her sixth win of the season after pitching a complete game giving up three runs on nine hits, while striking out four.
Cundiff and Mellano led the Poets offensively each recording two hits.
The Purple & Gold return to the diamond this Wednesday, April 3 when they host Mount St. Vincent in their final non-conference doubleheader of 2013. Game times are set for 1:00pm and 3:00pm.
