Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 Photo by: Tony Leon/ActionWestPhotography.com
WHITTIER, Calif. – The Whittier College softball team used two walk offs Saturday to propel them to the sweep over Chapman University 4-3 and 6-5 at Palmer Field during their Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) opener.
Whittier improves to 5-1, 2-0 SCIAC and sits tied for first in the SCIAC Standings with La Verne. Chapman now drops to 2-3, 1-2 SCIAC and drops into sixth place.
Game 1 (W 4-3; 8 – Innings)
Despite having starting shortstop freshman Marialena Ahern (Fremont, Calif.) and sophomore ace Samantha Blum (Whittier, Calif.) knocked out of the first game due to injuries the Poets managed to fend off the Panthers in extras 4-3.
The Poets had an opportunity early as Alexandra Flores (Santa Fe Springs, Calif.) led things off with a double to right center. She was sacrificed over by Emi Shimamoto (Santa Clarita, Calif.) but wouldn't come across as the next two batters would foul out and strike out ending the threat.
Chapman though would strike in the second with two runs that gave them an early lead but the Purple & Gold would respond would three in the bottom half of the third thanks to a hits batsman and a double to right center from Alyse Gutierrez (West Covina, Calif.).
CU managed to scrape one across in the fourth to tie things up and that would be the end of Blums start as she would be pulled in the bottom half of the inning following a fouled ball that hit her in the head. She was relieved by sophomore Rachel Alhanati (Lake Forest, Calif.) who came in to throw four shutout innings surrendering just two hits en route to picking up her first win of the season.
In the 8th, Mercedez Cundiff (Rowland, Calif.) led things off with a single up the middle. Samantha Mellano (Fullerton, Calif.) walked and Ashlyn Canchola (La Verne, Calif.) singled up the middle getting the bases loaded before senior Sarah Miller (Vista, Calif.) would draw the walk off base on balls that would push the winning run across the plate.
Cundiff finished the game 2-4 with two runs scored. Gutierrez was 1-3 with two runs batted in and Flores and Shimamoto were each 1-3 with runs scored.
The Poets got after Chapman ace Cassie Oregel who went the distance earning her second loss on the season giving up four runs on seven hits, while striking out 10.
Game 2 (W, 6-5)
The second game proved just as dramatic as the first but lasted just seven innings. Blum attempted to return to start the game but was not her usual self not being able to get out of the third inning giving way to Alhanati. Whittier got on the board with a run in the first. Flores led things off with a triple down the left field line and was brought in by a Cundiff sacrifice fly.
Chapman struck for three in the third all against Blum forcing her out of the game but Alhanati was able to come in with nobody out to retire the side.
In the bottom half of the inning the Poets would tie things up thanks to a two run shot from Mellano to center, but CU would regain the lead three innings later coming on a Taylor Cartwright single to left center with two outs. But again the Poets would rally getting that run back in the bottom half of the sixth thanks to a Flores single to left field that plated Miller.
No lead is safe at Palmer Field and the Panthers found that out first hand after they took a one run lead in the top half of the 7th after a throwing error by Miller. In the ensuing half the Poets would muster up a comeback however. Cundiff would homer on the first pitch she saw down the left field line that tied up the game. Mellano singled up the middle, Canchola reached on a fielders choice and she was then brought in by a Gutierrez double down the left field line for the walk off.
Alhanati picked up her second consecutive win in impressive fashion going 5.0 innings giving up two runs on seven hits. Chapman's Natalie Both went the distance but couldn't get the win as she was handed her first loss on the season being hit for six runs on eight hits.
Mellano finished the game 2-4 with a run scored and two RBI's. Cundiff was 1-3 but scored twice and drove in two and Flores finished 2-4 with a run scored and an RBI at the top.
Whittier has a quick turnaround as they return to Palmer Field tomorrow, Sunday, February 15 as they host Holy Names University for one game beginning at 10:00am.
