Photo by: Tony Leon/ActionWestPhotography.com

WHITTIER, Calif. – The Whittier College softball team ran into a tough test Tuesday, as they saw their high powered offense held in check by Linfield College as they dropped a pair 10-0 and 12-2.

With the losses the Poets drop to 15-7, 9-1 SCIAC, while Linfield improves to 16-6. 

Game 1 (Linfield – 10, Whittier – 0) – 5 Innings

Whittier was held to just one hit over five innings as they dropped a 10-0 decision in game one.  The Wildcast got after Samantha Blum (San Jose, Calif.) quickly putting up six runs in the first inning, which included a grand slam from Danielle Duman.

Rachel Alhanati (Lake Forest, Calif.) came in relief and threw the final four innings and gave up another four runs.

The Wildcats Montana McNealy threw a complete game, striking out six and improved to 12-1. 

The lone Poet hit came from Mercedez Cundiff (Rowland, Calif.), while Alexandra Flores (Santa Fe Springs, Calif.) and Samantha Mellano (Fullerton, Calif.) each drew walks.      

Game 2 (Linfield – 12, Whittier – 2) – 5 Innings

The second game continued where game one left off.  Alhanati got the start and earned two quick outs in the first but gave up five runs after that, capped off with a two run shot from Duman.  Whittier got one back in the bottom half of the inning however.  Flores led things off with a single to left.  Emi Shimamoto (Santa Clarita, Calif.) sacrificed her over and two batters later Cundiff reached on an errant throw by the shortstop that brought in the first Poet run.

The very next inning, Whittier would pull within three thanks to a solo shot from Alyse Gutierrez (West Covina, Calif.) but that would be the last offense generated by the Purple & Gold as the Wildcats went on to score seven runs over the next three innings, which included back to back homeruns in the fifth from Cheyenne Fletcher and Erin Kinney.   

Flores finished 1-3 with a run scored.  Mellano was 1-2 and Gutierrez was 1-1 with a run scored, an RBI and a walk. 

Alhanati earned the loss going 4.2 innings giving up 10 runs on 12 hits and drops to 5-4 on the season.             

The Poets look to bounce back as they return to conference play this Saturday, March 28 as they take on Pomona-Pitzer with game times set for 12:00pm and 2:00pm.