Photo by: Tony Leon/ActionWestPhotography.com

TUSCON, AZ – The Whittier College softball team wrapped up day two of the Arizona Invitational sweeping St. Olaf 11-1 before holding on to a 3-2 victory over George Fox.

Whittier finishes the weekend 2-2 and now improve to 17-7.   

Game 1 (St. Olaf – W, 11-1)

After two tough losses on day one of the Invitational, Whittier erupted for 11 runs on 11 hits.  Courtney Delano gave up an early run in the first but settled down throwing a gem over the next five innings giving up just four hits with six strikeouts, picking up her ninth win of the season.

Trailing 1-0 early the Poets came back to add two in the third thanks to a Sam Mellano double and an Alexandra Flores single.  They would add another two the next inning to go in front 4-1 before adding insurance in the fifth behind a DeLano double. 

In the sixth the game was opened up behind a six spot put up by the Purple & Gold putting the game out of reach.  Mellano doubled, Mercedez Cundiff singled and DeLano connected on her first grand slam of the season that gave the Poets the lopsided victory.

DeLano finished 3-4 with two runs scored and five runs batted in.  She was joined by Mellano who was 2-4 with a run scored and two RBI's.         

Game 2 (George Fox – W, 3-2)

The second game on day two proved to be a pitcher's duel.  Whittier went out in front 2-0 behind a Mickala Gonzales home run and then added another the following inning with a Flores double that plated DeLano. 

Holding onto a 3-0 lead Whittier saw the Bruins mount a comeback to pull within two with a run in the fourth.  They would grab another run in the top half of the seventh to pull within one and threatened to tie the game up with a runner in scoring position but freshman Samantha Blum would settle down and strike out Hylton to pick up her sixth win on the season.

Gonzales finished 1-2 with a run scored and two RBI's.  She was joined by Flores, Emi Shimamoto, Mellano, and Alex Algandar who each recorded hits.