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Box Score 2 Photo by: Tony Leon/ActionWestPhotography.com
THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. – Sophomore Samantha Blum (San Jose, Calif.) a week after being named the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) Athlete of the Week made Whittier College history once again earning her 19th win on the season, which places her No. 1 All-Time in the Whittier College softball record books for the most wins in a single season.
With the victory she surpasses Kathy Rodrigues who collected 18 wins back in 1985.
The Whittier College softball team kept their SCIAC Title hopes alive Friday afternoon as they split with Cal Lutheran University to remain tied with Claremont-M-S atop the SCIAC Standings. If the Poets and Athena's finish the regular season tied, Whittier would take home the crown as they own the head to head series 4-0 over CMS.
But it all comes down to Saturday, April 25 as they take on Pomona-Pitzer on Senior Day in their regular season finale. They sweep at Palmer Field and they earn the program's second SCIAC Championship. They split and CMS splits, they also earn the title. But if they drop both and CMS comes out and splits or sweeps La Verne they will hand the trophy over to the Athena's.
Game 1 (Cal Lutheran – 4, Whittier – 2)
Game one turned into a pitchers duel between Blum and Courtney Sooy. The Regals jumped out in front 2-0 in the first with two groundouts after getting the bases loaded and they would tack on another in the bottom of the second capitalizing on a throwing error by the first baseman.
But the Poets would bounce back in the fourth to get two back. Emi Shimamoto (Santa Clarita, Calif.) got things started with a walk and moved to third following a double by Samantha Mellano (Fullerton, Calif.) to right center. Mercedez Cundiff (San Jose, Calif.) then singled up the middle that brought in one and freshman Marialena Ahern (Fremont, Calif.) would bring in the second with a sacrifice fly that cut the deficit to one.
Just as Whittier broke through, CLU would answer again plating another two runs in the fifth with an Olivia Leyva double that moved the score to 4-2, which proved to be enough as the Regals would steal game one.
Blum was tagged with the loss going 6.0 innings allowing six hits, a walk and three earned runs. Sooy picked up her 11th win on the season collecting nine strikeouts and surrendering just three hits and two runs.
Game 2 (Whittier – 7, Cal Lutheran – 4)
Game two featured much more offensive production with both teams combining for 11 runs on 19 hits. Whittier jumped out in front 2-0 in the second inning with Blum singling in Ahern and Sarah Miller (Vista, Calif.) bringing in another with a groundout to the shortstop.
But CLU would respond with a three spot in the bottom half of the inning sparked by a single from Ryanna Morua, a double by Antonia Rapisardi, and a single from Shonna Christianson that made the score 3-2.
The Poets however didn't go away quietly bringing across another two in the third and two more in the fourth that put them in front 6-4. In the third, Shimamoto doubled to leftfield and was immediately followed by a Mellano double to left center. Cundiff then stepped up and singled down the left field line and Alyse Gutierrez (West Covina, Calif.) followed with a double to left center.
In the fourth, Mellano found the right field line for another double that brought across Shimamoto and Alexandra Flores (Santa Fe Springs, Calif.) and in the seventh Whittier added insurance with Ashlyn Canchola (La Verne, Calif.) reaching first on an error by the second baseman allowing Gutierrez to score from second.
The Regals threatened in the seventh loading the bases with two outs and bringing up Blake Lewis, their hottest bat but Blum forced her into a groundball to third that Cundiff gathered and went unassisted to third.
Blum went her second straight game going 7.0 innings, giving up three earned runs on seven hits. Christianson was dealt the loss giving up five runs on 10 hits.
Mellano and Shimamoto both went 3-4, but Mellano picked up three RBI's and a run scored. Cundiff finished 2-3 and Gutierrez was 2-2 with a run scored, an RBI and a walk.
Whittier takes on the Sagehens tomorrow, Saturday, April 25 with game times set for 12:00pm and 2:00pm. Senior day festivities will take place in between games.
