Photo by: Tony Leon/ActionWestPhotography.com

WHITTIER, Calif. – A year after going 2-4 against the University of Redlands, which included an upset victory over the Bulldogs in the SCIAC Post Season Tournament, the Poets again continued where they left off splitting with the No. 12 nationally ranked Bulldogs Saturday afternoon losing 4-0 and winning 9-7.

Whittier now improves to 8-4, 4-4 SCIAC and now drop into 5^th place in the SCIAC Standings, while Redlands improves to 12-4, 8-2.     

Game 1 (L, 4-0)

In what started out to be a pitcher's duel between Jessica Rosnack and Kayla Uphold ended up being a 4-0 victory for the Bulldogs with two insurance runs being scored in the 7^th.

Rosnack started the game off slowly giving up two runs in the first with one being earned but calmed down after that holding the high powered Redlands offense scoreless over the next 4.1 innings, while striking out six.  She was relieved by Anna Cade who went 1.2 innings giving up the two insurance runs.  For Redlands, Uphold went the distance picking up her eighth win of the season giving up a one hitter, while striking out four.

The lone Poet hit came off the bat of Xzandra Miranda-Castro who poked one into left center in the bottom of the fifth that broke up the no hitter.     

Game 2 (W, 9-7) 

The second game of the doubleheader matched up Poet ace Courtney DeLano and Kaitlyn Hoop but the Poets chased the Redlands starter after 4.0 innings after she surrendered five runs (two earned) on five hits leaving the game leading 7-5 giving way to Uphold who came in for the save. 

But Uphold was unable to hold the lead as she was roughed up for four runs (two earned) on five hits in just 2.0 innings of work giving her, her first loss of the season. 

Whittier trailed early 3-0 after Redlands plated three runs across but the Poets answered with four runs in the bottom half of the inning to take a 4-3 lead.  Samantha Mellano singled in a pair before Jordan Learn doubled to right bringing two more across.

After a scoreless second, the Bulldogs again answered with a four spot in the top half of the third to open the game up to 7-4 until Whittier answered scoring five runs over the next four innings, while the Redlands bats were kept in check. 

In the 3^rd, Mercedez Cundiff pulled the Poets within two with a single to left that scored Erica Lespron and then in the 5^th, Learn added another two RBI's that tied the game up at seven after she brought two around after a single up the middle.

Then in the 6^th with the game all knotted up and sophomore Heather Salisbury shutting down the Redlands offense, the Poets were able to plate another two with a two out single from Mellano to left that put the Purple & Gold up 9-7.

But in the 7^th, UR threatened getting the tying run on second after a Dani Santos double.  But Cade came in to relieve Salisbury and retired the next three batters she faced, two which included strikeouts helping her pick up her second save on the season and Salisbury's first win on the season.

Mellano finished the day 3-3 with two runs scored and four RBI's, while Learn finished 2-4 with four runs batted in.                     

Whittier returns to Palmer Field this Wednesday, March 13 when they host Stevens Institute with game times set for 1:00pm and 3:00pm.