Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 Photo by: Tony Leon/ActionWestPhotography.com
LA VERNE, Calif. – The Whittier College softball team remains in Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) Post Season contention following a split with La Verne Friday afternoon.
Raven Feret single handily lifted the Leopards to a game one victory 2-1 after a homerun and a double before two costly errors by LV in game two would allow Whittier to come away with the split winning 4-1.
Game 1 (L, 2-1)
In one of the lowest scoring affairs of the season, Whittier dropped a 2-1 decision in a doubleheader that had Post Season Tournament implications on the line. La Verne scored their first run in the bottom half of the first following a Feret opposite field double down the left field line. They would add two more in the third following a Feret solo shot to right field that put the Leos in front 2-0.
Whittier was held scoreless by La Verne starter Hayley Jaquess who went a complete game giving up six hits but ran into trouble in the seventh when she gave up a run.
Jordan Learn walked to start off the inning and was followed by a Courtney DeLano single to center. Ashlyn Canchola would remain hot with yet another hit to left loading the bases. Alexandra Flores would bring in the lone Poet run with a sacrifice fly and with two outs, Samantha Mellano would strikeout looking ending the Poet rally.
DeLano picked up the loss going 5.0 innings giving up two runs on five hits to go with seven walks. Mellano was 2-4 to lead the Poet offense, while Mickala Gonzales, Learn, Canchola, and DeLano each recorded a hit.
Game 2 (W, 4-1)
Two fielding errors in the 4th inning cost the Leopards as they fell 4-1, in game two. The two errors led to three unearned runs and the Poets added four hits on top of that to score all four runs in the inning.
After Gonzales singled through the left side to lead off the 4th, Mercedez Cundiff reached on an error by the shortstop and both advanced a base on the throw. Gonzales then scored on a wild pitch by La Verne starter Katherine Kibbe and Learn promptly followed with a single to left to score Cundiff. Whittier then loaded the bases on a walk and a single, and Learn came around to score when Vela dropped a popup drifting over to the right field line. Emi Shimamoto capped the inning off with an RBI single to left.
La Verne got on the board first. The Leopards went ahead when Vela sacrificed in Alexis Schiff with a deep flyout to center. Schiff had doubled to lead off the inning and Rebecca Ireland moved her over to third with a bunt.
Samantha Blum picked up the win for the Purple & Gold going a complete game giving up a run on five hits. She also led the offensive unit going 2-3 with a run scored, while Learn was 1-2 with a run scored and a run batted in.
Whittier wraps up their regular season tomorrow, Saturday, April 19 when they host Cal Lutheran University at 12:00pm and 2:00pm during Senior Day.
