Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 Photo by: Tony Leon/ActionWestPhotography.com
TUSCON, AZ – The Whittier College softball team dropped a pair to open up the Tuscon Invitational Games as they fell 5-4 to Central (IA) and 9-0 to Wisc.-Eau Claire.
Game 1 (Central (IA); L, 5-4)
Game one of the Invitational proved to be a thriller down to the very end. Trailing 5-1 heading into the 7th, Whittier was able to bring across three but came up short allowing Central to come away with the one run victory.
The Dutch earned three runs in the bottom of the first behind a single from Karlee Rock that brought in two and a wild pitch that plated Annie Sarcone. Whittier got on the board in the fifth following a single by Alex Algandar that brought in Mercedez Cundiff but Central would add another in the bottom of the inning on a sacrifice fly and then in the sixth.
Then in the seventh, Whittier had an opportunity to rally and go in front. Following three straight singles from Cundiff, Courtney DeLano, and Samantha Blum, Algandar lined into a double play that picked off Blum. But on the ensuing at bat, Alexandra Flores came up and belted a three run shot to left center that pulled the Poets within one but it would be too late as Emi Shimamoto would strike out ending the Poet threat.
Delano got the nod on the mound and earned the loss and is now 8-5 after going a complete game giving up five runs on six hits. Mallory Schulenberg got the win for the Dutch after going 7.0 innings giving up four runs on eight hits, while striking out four.
Flores was 3-4 with a run scored and three runs batted in. Cundiff was 2-2 and earned a walk.
Game 2 (Wisc.-Eau Claire; L, 9-0)
In the second game of the Invitational the Poets faced Wisc.-Eau Claire and was blanked being held to just four hits.
The Blugold added five runs over the first two innings and then added four in the fifth en route to the 9-0 victory after five innings of play.
DeLano earned the loss and is now 8-6 after going 1.1 innings giving up four runs on five hits. Blum came in relief and went 3.0 innings but surrendered four runs on seven hits.
Shimamoto finished the day going 2-3 while Flores and Cundiff picked up the other two hits.
